Watch and clock repairers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,240 | $16.46 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $67,230 | $32.32 |
| Mean (average) | $70,840 | $34.06 |
| 90th percentile | $109,990 | $52.88 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Watch and clock repairers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 8 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $110,050 | $46,090 | $125,960 | ||
| Colorado | $49,990 | $49,990 | $91,800 | 60 | 2.36 |
| Florida | $81,850 | $38,760 | $107,040 | ||
| Maryland | $62,440 | $37,480 | $127,780 | ||
| New York | $95,060 | $81,020 | $95,080 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $59,880 | $41,040 | $84,230 | ||
| Texas | $59,950 | $50,180 | $94,070 | ||
| Virginia | $80,410 | $41,180 | $96,160 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for watch and clock repairers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 8.8%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for watch and clock repairers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Watchmaking and Jewelrymaking CIP 47.0408
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- GrenSoft WorkTracer
- IBM Lotus Notes
- Sage Software Sage50
- Upland Consulting Group Repair Traq
- WatchWare Repair Shop
Transferable skills for career changers: Repairing, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Antique Clock Repairer, Clock Repair Technician, Clock Repairer, Watch and Clock Repairer, Watch Estimator, Watch Repair Person, Watch Repair Technician, Watch Repairer, Watch Technician (Watch Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do watch and clock repairers make?
The national median annual wage for watch and clock repairers was $67,230 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,240 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $109,990. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do watch and clock repairers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is watch and clock repairers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of watch and clock repairers to change -0.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay watch and clock repairers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($110,050), New York ($95,060), Florida ($81,850). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.