Watch and Clock Repairers
What Watch and Clock Repairers Do
Repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks. Includes watchmakers, watch technicians, and mechanical timepiece repairers.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- 9.8%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 3 of 5Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Job training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 4.2/5
- Administration and Managementimportance 3.7/5
- Mechanicalimportance 3.6/5
- Administrativeimportance 3.1/5
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.0/5
- Production and Processingimportance 3.0/5
- English Languageimportance 3.0/5
- Sales and Marketingimportance 2.8/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled5.0/5
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls5.0/5
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.9/5
- Spend Time Sitting4.7/5
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals4.7/5
- Freedom to Make Decisions4.6/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners93% skill match
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics92% skill match
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians89% skill match
- Motorcycle Mechanics89% skill match
- Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians88% skill match
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters88% skill match
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers88% skill match
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians88% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Repairingimportance 3.9/5
- Operations Monitoringimportance 3.1/5
- Equipment Maintenanceimportance 3.0/5
- Troubleshootingimportance 3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 2.9/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 2.8/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Other Software Used
- GrenSoft WorkTracer
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Sage Software Sage50
- Upland Consulting Group Repair Traq
- WatchWare Repair Shop
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Perseverance
- Achievement Orientation
- Intellectual Curiosity
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- InvestigativeLow
- SocialLow
- ArtisticLow
- EnterprisingLow
Specific Interests
A more detailed breakdown of this occupation’s interest profile, per O*NET.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Timing Device Assemblers and AdjustersCareer Change
- Musical Instrument Repairers and TunersLateral Move
- Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and RepairersLateral Move
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, HandCareer Change
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.
Watchmaking and Jewelrymaking
- Sonoran Desert Institute (Tempe, AZ)grads earn ~$54,922
- Sonoran Desert Institute (Tempe, AZ)grads earn ~$85,119
- Colorado School of Trades (Lakewood, CO)grads earn ~$44,411
- Montgomery Community College (Troy, NC)
- Paris Junior College (Paris, TX)