49 Series · SOC 49-9064

Watch and Clock Repairers Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$67,230
Median / year
$109,990
Top 10% earn
-1.1%
Growth '23–'33
1,310
US workers

Watch and Clock Repairers earn a median of $67,230 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $67,230, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,240 (10th percentile) to $109,990 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 1,310 US workers. California pays the most ($110,050), since pay varies by state and metro area.

49 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Watch and Clock Repairers earn a median of $67,230, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 59% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Installation, Maintenance, and Repair, it ranks #14 of 51 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 1.1% by 2033.

$67,230
Median annual wage
Top 41%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#14 of 51
in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
3.2×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: California at $110,050. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Watch and Clock Repairers (SOC 49-9064) pays a national median of $67,230 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,240 at the 10th percentile to $109,990 at the 90th, with a mean of $70,840 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 1,310 Americans work in this occupation across 8 reporting states and 3 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -1.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 100 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 long-term on-the-job training 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. California pays the highest state median at $110,050, which is +64% above the national figure. The top metro is New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $95,060 - 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.

BLS OEWS May 2025 1,310 jobs Median $67,230/yr

Median Salary

$67,230

per year

Median Hourly

$32.32/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$70,840

average

Employment

1,310

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Watch and Clock Repairers pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$67,230 Top 41% higher than 59% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

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 Watch and Clock Repairers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 49-series occupations with growth data, Watch and Clock Repairers sits on the slower-growing side at -1.1% growth and $67,230 median pay.

Among 24 49-series occupations with growth data, Watch and Clock Repairers sits on the slower-growing side at -1.1% growth and $67,230 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $20000$40000$60000$80000$100000 -10%-5%0%5%10%15%20% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 49-series occupations with growth data, Watch and Clock Repairers sits on the slower-growing side at -1.1% growth and $67,230 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-1.1%

Declining

Annual Openings

100

per year (projected)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Long-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
B

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 Watch and Clock Repairers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Repairing 3.9
Critical Thinking 3.1
Operations Monitoring 3.1
Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Equipment Maintenance 3.0
Troubleshooting 3.0
Quality Control Analysis 3.0
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0
Reading Comprehension 2.9

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 4.2
Administration and Management 3.7
Mechanical 3.6
Administrative 3.1
Engineering and Technology 3.0
Production and Processing 3.0
English Language 3.0
Sales and Marketing 2.8
Education and Training 2.8
Economics and Accounting 2.7

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Clean, rinse, and dry timepiece parts, using solutions and ultrasonic or mechanical watch-cleaning machines.
  • ▸ Adjust timing regulators, using truing calipers, watch-rate recorders, and tweezers.
  • ▸ Reassemble timepieces, replacing glass faces and batteries, before returning them to customers.
  • ▸ Disassemble timepieces and inspect them for defective, worn, misaligned, or rusty parts, using loupes.
  • ▸ Oil moving parts of timepieces.
  • ▸ Estimate repair costs and timepiece values.
  • ▸ Repair or replace broken, damaged, or worn parts on timepieces, using lathes, drill presses, and hand tools.
  • ▸ Test timepiece accuracy and performance, using meters and other electronic instruments.
  • ▸ Perform regular adjustment and maintenance on timepieces, watch cases, and watch bands.
  • ▸ Order supplies, including replacement parts, for timing instruments.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$34,240$47,650$67,230$91,490$109,990
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$16.46$22.91$32.32$43.99$52.88
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$34,240

25th Percentile

$47,650

Median

$67,230

75th Percentile

$91,490

90th Percentile

$109,990

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. California $110,050 2. New York $95,060 3. Florida $81,850 4. Virginia $80,410 5. Maryland $62,440

Lowest Paying States

4. Colorado $49,990 5. Pennsylvania $59,880 6. Texas $59,950 7. Maryland $62,440 8. Virginia $80,410
View all 8 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 California $110,050 +64% above national
2 New York $95,060 +41% above national
3 Florida $81,850 +22% above national
4 Virginia $80,410 +20% above national
5 Maryland $62,440 7% below national
6 Texas $59,950 11% below national
7 Pennsylvania $59,880 11% below national
8 Colorado $49,990 26% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $95,060 2. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $82,270 3. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $49,990

Lowest Paying Metros

-1. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $49,990 0. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $82,270 1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $95,060
View all 3 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $95,060 +41% above national
2 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $82,270 +22% above national
3 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $49,990 26% 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.

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

SOC 49-3011

Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers

SOC 49-2097

Automotive Body and Related Repairers

SOC 49-3021

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

SOC 49-3022

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

SOC 49-3023
Compare Watch and Clock Repairers side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Watch and Clock Repairers make? ▼
The median annual salary for Watch and Clock Repairers is $67,230 ($32.32/hour). The salary range spans from $34,240 at the 10th percentile to $109,990 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Watch and Clock Repairers the most? ▼
California pays the highest median salary for Watch and Clock Repairers at $110,050/year, which is +64% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Watch and Clock Repairers? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Watch and Clock Repairers is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Watch and Clock Repairers? ▼
Watch and Clock Repairers has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 8.1 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3 per 100 workers.
Is Watch and Clock Repairers a good career? ▼
Employment for Watch and Clock Repairers is projected to decline 1.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 100 openings are projected each year.
How does Watch and Clock Repairers pay vary by state? ▼
Watch and Clock Repairers salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $110,050/year, while Virginia pays the least at $80,410/year. BLS data covers 8 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Watch and Clock Repairers? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Watch and Clock Repairers is New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $95,060/year. BLS reports wage data for 3 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Watch and Clock Repairers pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $91,490/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: California leads at $110,050/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.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

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.