Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
Machines can already do 6% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 34%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 6% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 0% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2040, and 34% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 5,380 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $46,420 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 62% for contact with people.
- Also called: Brass Instrument Repair Technician (Brass Instrument Repair Tech), Fretted String Instrument Repairer, Guitar Repairer, Instrument Repair Technician (Instrument Repair Tech).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices | 15% | 3% to 30% | |
| Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools | 14% | 3% to 30% | |
| Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary | 9% | 3% to 30% | |
| Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects | 8% | 3% to 30% | |
| Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required | 6% | 3% to 30% | |
| Align pads and keys on reed or wind instruments | 6% | 3% to 30% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills musical instrument repairers and tuners use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
This job is already among the lowest risk for its skill shape.
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2040. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of musical instrument repairers and tuners?
Machines can do 6% of the tasks of musical instrument repairers and tuners today and 34% 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 49-9063.00 (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). Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/musical-instrument-repairers-and-tuners/