Home Appliance Repairers
Machines can already do 20% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 53%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Home Appliance Repairers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 20% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2034, and 53% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 32,150 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $50,990 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 87% for contact with people.
- Also called: Appliance Mechanic, Appliance Repair Mechanic, Appliance Repair Technician (Appliance Repair Tech), Appliance Service Technician.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace worn and defective parts such as switches, bearings, transmissions, belts, gears, circuit boards, or defective wiring | 14% | 3% to 30% | |
| Observe and examine appliances during operation to detect specific malfunctions such as loose parts or leaking fluid | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Disassemble appliances so that problems can be diagnosed and repairs can be made | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Reassemble units after repairs are made, making adjustments and cleaning and lubricating parts as needed | 7% | 20% to 60% | |
| Talk to customers or refer to work orders to establish the nature of appliance malfunctions | 6% | 42% to 72% | |
| Service and repair domestic electrical or gas appliances, such as clothes washers, refrigerators, stoves, and dryers | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Bill customers for repair work, and collect payment | 4% | 50% to 85% | |
| Refer to schematic drawings, product manuals, and troubleshooting guides to diagnose and repair problems | 4% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills home appliance repairers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Medical Equipment Repairers50% of tasks by 2035 · US median $61,660
- Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers45% of tasks by 2035 · US median $52,600
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics44% of tasks by 2035 · US median $50,620
- Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers43% of tasks by 2035 · US median $109,910
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Home Appliance Repairers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2034. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of home appliance repairers?
Machines can do 20% of the tasks of home appliance repairers today and 53% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 49-9031.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Home Appliance Repairers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/home-appliance-repairers/