49 Series · SOC 49-9063
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $46,420
- Median / year
- $71,600
- Top 10% earn
- +1.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 5,380
- US workers
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners earn a median of $46,420 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $46,420, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $31,220 (10th percentile) to $71,600 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 5,380 US workers. Michigan pays the most ($59,570), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners earn a median of $46,420, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 23% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Installation, Maintenance, and Repair, it ranks #47 of 51 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1.4% by 2033.
- $46,420
- Median annual wage
- Top 77%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #47 of 51
- in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- 2.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Michigan at $59,570. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners (SOC 49-9063) pays a national median of $46,420 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $31,220 at the 10th percentile to $71,600 at the 90th, with a mean of $49,960 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 5,380 Americans work in this occupation across 34 reporting states and 28 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and apprenticeship of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 8.1 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Michigan pays the highest state median at $59,570, which is +28% above the national figure. The top metro is Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ at $63,800 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$46,420
per year
Median Hourly
$22.32/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$49,960
average
Employment
5,380
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$46,420 Bottom 23% higher than 23% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 49-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 49-series occupations with growth data, Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners sits on the slower-growing side at +1.4% growth and $46,420 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+1.4%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
600
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Apprenticeship
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
8.1/100K
Injury Rate
3/100
Danger Index
16/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Align pads and keys on reed or wind instruments.
- ▸ Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices.
- ▸ Solder posts and parts to hold them in their proper places.
- ▸ Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments.
- ▸ Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects.
- ▸ Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment.
- ▸ Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools.
- ▸ Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary.
- ▸ Remove dents and burrs from metal instruments, using mallets and burnishing tools.
- ▸ Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$31,220
25th Percentile
$37,670
Median
$46,420
75th Percentile
$58,430
90th Percentile
$71,600
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 34 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $59,570 | +28% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $58,730 | +27% above national |
| 3 | Tennessee | $58,730 | +27% above national |
| 4 | Maryland | $55,130 | +19% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $54,800 | +18% above national |
| 6 | New York | $53,420 | +15% above national |
| 7 | Connecticut | $52,940 | +14% above national |
| 8 | Utah | $50,180 | +8% above national |
| 9 | Illinois | $49,250 | +6% above national |
| 10 | Maine | $48,530 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Texas | $48,250 | +4% above national |
| 12 | California | $47,580 | +2% above national |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $47,520 | +2% above national |
| 14 | Missouri | $47,220 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $46,820 | +1% above national |
| 16 | North Dakota | $46,780 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $46,540 | same as national |
| 18 | Virginia | $45,140 | 3% below national |
| 19 | South Carolina | $44,870 | 3% below national |
| 20 | Minnesota | $44,230 | 5% below national |
| 21 | Florida | $44,030 | 5% below national |
| 22 | Kansas | $43,680 | 6% below national |
| 23 | Colorado | $43,670 | 6% below national |
| 24 | Washington | $43,330 | 7% below national |
| 25 | North Carolina | $42,970 | 7% below national |
| 26 | Ohio | $39,900 | 14% below national |
| 27 | West Virginia | $38,920 | 16% below national |
| 28 | Iowa | $38,700 | 17% below national |
| 29 | Nevada | $38,500 | 17% below national |
| 30 | Indiana | $38,440 | 17% below national |
| 31 | Arizona | $37,850 | 18% below national |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $31,160 | 33% below national |
| 33 | Georgia | $29,640 | 36% below national |
| 34 | Mississippi | $23,980 | 48% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 28 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $63,800 | +37% above national |
| 2 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $61,490 | +32% above national |
| 3 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $61,300 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $59,250 | +28% above national |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $58,730 | +27% above national |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,170 | +25% above national |
| 7 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $55,470 | +19% above national |
| 8 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $53,110 | +14% above national |
| 9 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $51,880 | +12% above national |
| 10 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $50,090 | +8% above national |
| 11 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,950 | +8% above national |
| 12 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $47,820 | +3% above national |
| 13 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,760 | +3% above national |
| 14 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $47,580 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $47,180 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $47,150 | +2% above national |
| 17 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $45,600 | 2% below national |
| 18 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $45,260 | 2% below national |
| 19 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $45,240 | 3% below national |
| 20 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $45,080 | 3% below national |
| 21 | Cleveland, OH | $44,570 | 4% below national |
| 22 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $43,700 | 6% below national |
| 23 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $43,670 | 6% below national |
| 24 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $43,380 | 7% below national |
| 25 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $42,040 | 9% below national |
| 26 | Pittsburgh, PA | $38,790 | 16% below national |
| 27 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $37,490 | 19% below national |
| 28 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $29,570 | 36% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 49 (installation maintenance and repair) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners make? ▼
What state pays Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners? ▼
How dangerous is being a Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners? ▼
Is Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners a good career? ▼
How does Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $58,430/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Michigan leads at $59,570/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.