Tunes, regulates, repairs and restores acoustic pianos for homes, schools, churches, recording studios and concert halls. 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
Piano 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: Registered Piano Technician, Piano Tuner-Technician, Concert Piano Technician, Piano Rebuilder.
Pay
How much do Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners make?
Every piano 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 Piano 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 Piano Technician
There is no state license. People learn through piano technology programs, distance courses or apprenticeship with an experienced technician, and most need several years before they work independently. A good ear and fine motor skills matter more than a degree.
The Piano Technicians Guild sets the industry standard with its Registered Piano Technician credential, earned by passing a written exam, a tuning exam and a technical exam on repair and regulation of grand and upright actions. Only those who pass may advertise as an RPT. Many technicians build a client list of homes and schools, while others join piano dealers or university music departments.
- 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 Piano Technician do?
A piano has thousands of moving parts and more than two hundred strings under high tension. Piano technicians keep all of it working. Tuning is the core skill: adjusting each string's pitch by ear and with electronic aids so the instrument sounds even across its whole range.
Beyond tuning, technicians regulate the action so every key feels the same, voice hammers to brighten or soften tone, and repair broken strings, keys and pedals. Some specialize in rebuilding old grands, while concert technicians prepare pianos for performances and recordings at universities, symphony halls and studios, sometimes tuning between sets.
Day-to-day tasks
- Tune acoustic pianos by ear and with electronic tuning aids
- Regulate keys, hammers and dampers for even touch
- Voice hammers to adjust the piano's tone
- Replace broken strings, keys and action parts
- Inspect pianos for buyers and estimate repair costs
- Prepare concert pianos before performances and recordings
- Advise owners on humidity control and care
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Most technicians are self-employed and drive between clients' homes, schools, churches and venues, with flexible scheduling. Shop work is done at a bench. The job involves quiet concentration, bending over instruments and some lifting. Concert and studio work can include early mornings or tunings between rehearsals.
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 Piano Technician?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RAC) built on O*NET's Musical Instrument Repairer and Tuner profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Piano 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 Piano Technician
O*NET related occupations
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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
- Piano 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 |
| Piano Technician | $46,420 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Piano Technician appears on
Questions
Piano 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 Piano 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 Piano 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 Piano Technician do?
A piano has thousands of moving parts and more than two hundred strings under high tension. A typical task: tune acoustic pianos by ear and with electronic tuning aids.
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 Piano 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.