Sets up, tunes, maintains and repairs a band's instruments and amplifiers on tour and at concerts. BLS does not publish separate figures for musical instrument repairers and tuners; it counts them within musical instrument repairer and tuner (SOC 49-9063), whose median pay is $46,420 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 49-9063
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Backline Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $46,420a year, or $22.32/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $31KTop 10% $72K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.9%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 6006,000 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20256K
- Projected 20356.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 6K Projected 2035 6.1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school18.2%
- High school9.1%
- Certificate54.6%
- Some college4.6%
- Associate's4.6%
- Bachelor's9.1%
Highest education held by musical instrument repairers and tuners Segment Value Less than high school 18.2% High school 9.1% Certificate 54.6% Some college 4.6% Associate's 4.6% Bachelor's 9.1%
Also advertised as: Backline Tech, Guitar Tech, Drum Tech, Keyboard Tech, Touring Instrument Technician.
Pay
How much do Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners make?
Every backline technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$46,420
Middle half earn $37,670 to $58,430
- 10th
- $31,220
- 25th
- $37,670
- 75th
- $58,430
- 90th
- $71,600
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $31,220 |
| 25th | $37,670 |
| Median | $46,420 |
| 75th | $58,430 |
| 90th | $71,600 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $46,420
- Median hourly wage
- $22.32/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $49,960
- People employed
- 5,380
Versus all US occupations
At $46,420, Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners earn 9% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $4,560 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150, this is 24% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $71,600 or more while the bottom 10% earn $31,220, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 14% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Michigan posts the highest raw median ($59,570), but once local prices are taken into account Tennessee leads at $63,927 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Michigan | $59,570 | $61,912 | 210 |
| 2New Jersey | $58,730 | $53,977 | 200 |
| 3Tennessee | $58,730 | $63,927 | 300 |
| 4Maryland | $55,130 | $52,525 | 160 |
| 5Oregon | $54,800 | $53,018 | 40 |
| 6New York | $53,420 | $49,499 | 270 |
| 7Connecticut | $52,940 | $51,095 | 40 |
| 8Utah | $50,180 | $50,757 | 60 |
| 9Illinois | $49,250 | $49,271 | 200 |
| 10Maine | $48,530 | $50,005 | 90 |
Job outlook
Is Backline Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners | +1.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners to change 1.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 600 openings are projected each year, 10.0% of the 6,000 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Backline Technician
No degree is required. Many backline techs are musicians who learned setup and repair on their own instruments, and instrument repair programs, such as Berklee's minor in instrument repair or guitar repair courses at trade schools, add formal skills in fretwork, intonation and electronics.
People usually start by teching for local bands, working at a music store repair bench, or joining a backline rental company. Touring jobs come through word of mouth from tour managers and other techs. Reliability, fast troubleshooting and knowing a specific artist's preferred setup are what keep people hired.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Apprenticeship
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as musical instrument repairers and tuners.
- Post-Secondary Certificate54.6%
- Less than a High School Diploma18.2%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)9.1%
- Bachelor's Degree9.1%
- Some College Courses4.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 54.6% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 18.2% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 9.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 9.1% |
| Some College Courses | 4.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Backline Technician do?
Backline is the gear on stage behind the vocalist: guitars, basses, amps, drums and keyboards. Backline technicians make sure all of it works every night. They string and tune guitars, change drum heads, set up keyboard rigs, and line-check each instrument before the band arrives.
During the show they stand side stage ready to hand over a freshly tuned guitar between songs or fix a broken string, pedal or cable mid-set. After the show they pack everything into road cases for the truck. Some techs work for one artist on tour, while others work for backline rental companies that supply gear to festivals and venues.
Day-to-day tasks
- Set up and line-check guitars, amps, drums and keyboards before shows
- Restring, tune and intonate guitars and basses
- Change drum heads and adjust drum hardware
- Hand off instruments to performers between songs
- Repair broken strings, cables, pedals and electronics on the spot
- Pack and inventory gear in road cases for transport
- Maintain spare parts and backup instruments
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Backline techs work on stages, in loading docks and on tour buses, with early load-ins and late load-outs. Touring means weeks or months away from home. The job is physical, with heavy lifting of amps and road cases, and loud.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Monitoring2.9
- Writing2.8
- Active Learning2.8
- Learning Strategies2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Quality Control Analysis3.9
- Troubleshooting3.8
- Repairing3.8
- Service Orientation3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Equipment Selection3.0
- Equipment Maintenance3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.9 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.8 |
| Repairing | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Equipment Selection | 3.0 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Backline Technician?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RAC) built on O*NET's Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Backline Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Realistic6.4
- Artistic4.2
- Conventional4.0
- Investigative2.6
- Social1.6
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Backline Technician
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
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$56,210median a year
Most earn $37K to $85K
+4.4%High school - Production
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$45,930median a year
Most earn $35K to $63K
+4.6%Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed - Production
More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with musical instrument repairers and tuners highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
- Backline Technician$46,420
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
| Backline Technician | $46,420 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Backline Technician appears on
Questions
Backline Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for musical instrument repairers and tuners. It counts them within musical instrument repairer and tuner, whose median pay is $46,420 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $37,670 and $58,430, and the top 10% earn $71,600 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Backline Technician?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners. BLS also lists apprenticeship as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 54.6% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Backline Technician a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.9% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Backline Technician do?
Backline is the gear on stage behind the vocalist: guitars, basses, amps, drums and keyboards. A typical task: set up and line-check guitars, amps, drums and keyboards before shows.
Which states pay Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners the most?
The highest state medians for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners are Michigan ($59,570), New Jersey ($58,730), Tennessee ($58,730) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Tennessee moves to the top at $63,927.
What personality type suits a Backline Technician?
O*NET scores Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners highest on the Realistic, Artistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.