| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Instruct customers regarding operation and care of appliances, and provide information such as emergency service numbers. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Talk to customers or refer to work orders to establish the nature of appliance malfunctions. |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Disassemble appliances so that problems can be diagnosed and repairs can be made. |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Level washing machines and connect hoses to water pipes, using hand tools. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Reassemble units after repairs are made, making adjustments and cleaning and lubricating parts as needed. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Provide repair cost estimates, and recommend whether appliance repair or replacement is a better choice. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Replace worn and defective parts such as switches, bearings, transmissions, belts, gears, circuit boards, or defective wiring. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Refer to schematic drawings, product manuals, and troubleshooting guides to diagnose and repair problems. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Observe and examine appliances during operation to detect specific malfunctions such as loose parts or leaking fluid. |
| Importance: 93 (%) | Description: Maintain stocks of parts used in on-site installation, maintenance, and repair of appliances. |
| Importance: 93 (%) | Description: Set appliance thermostats, and check to ensure that they are functioning properly. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Bill customers for repair work, and collect payment. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Trace electrical circuits, following diagrams, and conduct tests with circuit testers and other equipment to locate shorts and grounds. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Service and repair domestic electrical or gas appliances, such as clothes washers, refrigerators, stoves, and dryers. |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Light and adjust pilot lights on gas stoves, and examine valves and burners for gas leakage and specified flame. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Clean and reinstall parts. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Level refrigerators, adjust doors, and connect water lines to water pipes for ice makers and water dispensers, using hand tools. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Record maintenance and repair work performed on appliances. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Test and examine gas pipelines and equipment to locate leaks and faulty connections, and to determine the pressure and flow of gas. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Observe and test operation of appliances following installation, and make any initial installation adjustments that are necessary. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Contact supervisors or offices to receive repair assignments. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Clean, lubricate, and touch up minor defects on newly installed or repaired appliances. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Install appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and stoves. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Respond to emergency calls for problems such as gas leaks. |
Associate Degree Careers and Jobs
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with an Associate's Degree or Less - All On One Page.
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary and including percentage of job holders with Associate's Degree or less.
An associate's degree can open doors to skilled technical, healthcare, and business support roles without the time commitment of a four-year degree. For people who want a faster, more affordable path into a stable career. Compare careers ranked by salary, review degree-holder and experience percentages, and access preparation resources for each role.
Here is a short Helper Video 
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Associate's Degree, to (1) Select a career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Associate's Degree careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Associate Degree Jobs
What jobs can you get with an Associate's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are careers related to the Associate's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having an Associate's Degree. - 571 specific careers are listed, with matching jobs currently available. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those careers that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Associate's Degree or less) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Home Appliance Repairers.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Home Appliance Repairers" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Home Appliance Repairers
Description: Repair, adjust, or install all types of electric or gas household appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, and ovens.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Home Appliance Repairers":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
31,600U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
30,400
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
-1,100 (-3.6%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
2,900
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Take measurements to determine if appliances will fit in installation locations, performing minor carpentry work when necessary to ensure proper installation. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Install gas pipes and water lines to connect appliances to existing gas lines or plumbing. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Conserve, recover, and recycle refrigerants used in cooling systems. |
| Importance: 51 (%) | Description: Assemble new or reconditioned appliances. |
| Importance: 40 (%) | Description: Measure, cut, and thread pipe, and connect it to feeder lines and equipment or appliances, using rules and hand tools. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Performing General Physical Activities: Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance. | |
| Advise others on issues related to repairs, installation, or equipment design. | |
| Assemble mechanical components or machine parts. | |
| Clean equipment, parts, or tools to repair or maintain them in good working order. | |
| Collect payments for goods or services. | |
| Confer with coworkers to resolve equipment problems. | |
| Confer with customers or users to assess problems. | |
| Connect hoses to equipment or piping. | |
| Cut materials according to specifications or needs. | |
| Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair. | |
| Dispose of hazardous materials. | |
| Estimate costs for labor or materials. | |
| Inspect gas systems or components to identify leaks or other potential hazards. | |
| Inspect systems to determine if they are operating properly. | |
| Install home appliances. | |
| Install piping for installation or maintenance activities. | |
| Level machines or equipment. | |
| Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning. | |
| Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products. | |
| Maintain repair or maintenance records. | |
| Measure distances or dimensions. | |
| Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems. | |
| Read technical information needed to perform maintenance or repairs. | |
| Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed. | |
| Reassemble equipment after repair. | |
| Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts. | |
| Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts. | |
| Test electrical circuits or components for proper functioning. | |
| Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning. | |
| Train customers in the use of products. | |
| Travel to work sites to perform installation, repair or maintenance work. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
| Importance: 58 (%) | Description: Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance. |
| Activity: Advise others on business or operational matters. |
| Activity: Assemble equipment or components. |
| Activity: Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas. |
| Activity: Collect fares or payments. |
| Activity: Confer with clients to determine needs or order specifications. |
| Activity: Connect components or supply lines to equipment or tools. |
| Activity: Coordinate with others to resolve problems. |
| Activity: Cut materials. |
| Activity: Disassemble equipment. |
| Activity: Dispose of waste or debris. |
| Activity: Estimate project development or operational costs. |
| Activity: Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment. |
| Activity: Install commercial or production equipment. |
| Activity: Install plumbing or piping equipment or systems. |
| Activity: Maintain operational records. |
| Activity: Maintain tools or equipment. |
| Activity: Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment. |
| Activity: Monitor equipment operation. |
| Activity: Operate transportation equipment or vehicles. |
| Activity: Position tools or equipment. |
| Activity: Read documents or materials to inform work processes. |
| Activity: Repair tools or equipment. |
| Activity: Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products. |
| Activity: Test performance of equipment or systems. |
| Activity: Train others to use equipment or products. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||
| Microsoft Outlook | |||||
| Office suite software: | |||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||
| Operating system software: | |||||
| Microsoft Windows | |||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||
| Word processing software: | |||||
| Microsoft Word | |||||
| General Software Tools | |||||
| Data base user interface and query software (scroll table below): | |||||
| |||||
| Internet browser software: | |||||
| Web browser software | |||||
| Route navigation software: | |||||
| Route mapping software |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed |
| Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. |
| Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. |
| These occupations involve following instructions and often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include dishwashers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, counter and rental clerks, dental laboratory technicians, and security guards. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 69.0 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 20.3 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.6 (%) | Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma |
| Frequency of Attainment: 3.1 (%) | Level of Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 34.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 31.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 13.7 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.5 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 2.9 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 2.9 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 10 years |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Certifications
| Certifications These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them? |
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Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician
| |
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Certified Master Technician
| |
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Certified National Appliance Service Technician - Cooking
| |
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Certified National Appliance Service Technician - Laundry and Dishwashing
| |
Job Listings
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Home Appliance Repairers". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Home Appliance Repairers
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
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