Services, repairs, and restores mechanical and quartz watches, working at microscopic scale on movements for jewelers, brands, and collectors. BLS does not publish separate figures for watch and clock repairers; it counts them within watch and clock repairer (SOC 49-9064), whose median pay is $67,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 49-9064
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Watchmaker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $67,230a year, or $32.32/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $34KTop 10% $110K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -0.3%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−0.3%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −0.3% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1001,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.4K
- Projected 20351.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.4K Projected 2035 1.4K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school1.2%
- High school22.4%
- Certificate45.8%
- Some college7.5%
- Associate's21.5%
- Post-bacc certificate1.7%
Highest education held by watch and clock repairers Segment Value Less than high school 1.2% High school 22.4% Certificate 45.8% Some college 7.5% Associate's 21.5% Post-bacc certificate 1.7%
Also advertised as: Certified Watchmaker, Horologist, Watch Technician, Service Watchmaker, Master Watchmaker.
Pay
How much do Watch and Clock Repairers make?
Every watchmaker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$67,230
Middle half earn $47,650 to $91,490
- 10th
- $34,240
- 25th
- $47,650
- 75th
- $91,490
- 90th
- $109,990
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,240 |
| 25th | $47,650 |
| Median | $67,230 |
| 75th | $91,490 |
| 90th | $109,990 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $67,230
- Median hourly wage
- $32.32/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $70,840
- People employed
- 1,310
Versus all US occupations
At $67,230, Watch and Clock Repairers earn 32% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $16,250 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150, this is 10% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $109,990 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,240, a gap of 3.2×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 42% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $110,050, and still leads at $99,395 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Watch and Clock Repairers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $110,050 | $99,395 | N/A |
| 2New York | $95,060 | $88,083 | N/A |
| 3Florida | $81,850 | $79,148 | N/A |
| 4Virginia | $80,410 | $79,532 | N/A |
| 5Maryland | $62,440 | $59,490 | N/A |
| 6Texas | $59,950 | $61,768 | N/A |
| 7Pennsylvania | $59,880 | $61,370 | N/A |
| 8Colorado | $49,990 | $48,509 | 60 |
Job outlook
Is Watchmaker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -0.3% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Watch and Clock Repairers | −0.3% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Watch and Clock Repairers to change -0.3% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 0 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 100 openings are projected each year, 7.1% of the 1,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Watchmaker
Most watchmakers complete a dedicated watchmaking program, typically about two years of full-time training. In the US, programs are offered by schools partnered with watch brands and follow the WOSTEP curriculum, a Swiss standard. The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) offers the CW21 certification, which tests theory, automatic chronograph service, and precision timing.
Graduates often start at a brand service center or a jeweler's repair department doing routine servicing, then take on more complex movements with experience. Strong hand skills, patience, and good eyesight are essential.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 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 watch and clock repairers.
- Post-Secondary Certificate45.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)22.4%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree21.5%
- Some College Courses7.5%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate1.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 45.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 22.4% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 21.5% |
| Some College Courses | 7.5% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 1.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Watchmaker do?
A watchmaker takes apart a watch movement, cleans and inspects each tiny part, replaces worn components, lubricates, reassembles, and regulates it until it keeps accurate time. They work with mechanical, automatic, and quartz watches, including complicated chronographs, and test water resistance before returning a watch to its owner.
Watchmakers work in brand service centers, at retail jewelers, and in independent repair shops. Some specialize in restoring vintage watches, making parts that are no longer available, or refinishing cases and bracelets. A small number work in watch manufacturing and design. Precise record-keeping and quoting repairs are also part of the job.
Day-to-day tasks
- Disassemble and inspect watch movements
- Clean, lubricate, and reassemble movements
- Replace worn or broken components
- Regulate watches for accuracy using timing machines
- Test and restore water resistance
- Service chronographs and other complications
- Restore vintage watches and fabricate unavailable parts
- Prepare repair estimates and service records
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Watchmakers work at a clean bench in service centers, jewelry stores, and repair shops. The work is seated and highly detailed, using loupes, microscopes, and fine tools for long periods. Hours are typically regular business hours, with little travel.
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 timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing 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 Thinking3.1
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Monitoring2.6
- Writing2.3
- Active Learning2.3
- Mathematics2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.6 |
| Writing | 2.3 |
| Active Learning | 2.3 |
| Mathematics | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Repairing3.9
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Equipment Maintenance3.0
- Troubleshooting3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Repairing | 3.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Project management 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 Watchmaker?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code RIC) built on O*NET's Watch and Clock Repairer profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Watchmaker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
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 organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.5
- Conventional4.7
- Investigative3.2
- Social1.4
- Artistic1.3
- Enterprising1.1
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
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More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with watch and clock repairers highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Watchmaker$67,230
- 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
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Watchmaker | $67,230 |
| 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 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Watchmaker appears on
Questions
Watchmaker: frequently asked questions
How much do Watch and Clock Repairers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for watch and clock repairers. It counts them within watch and clock repairer, whose median pay is $67,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $47,650 and $91,490, and the top 10% earn $109,990 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Watchmaker?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Watch and Clock Repairers. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 45.8% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Watchmaker a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 0.3% over 2025–2035, a loss of 0 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Watchmaker do?
A watchmaker takes apart a watch movement, cleans and inspects each tiny part, replaces worn components, lubricates, reassembles, and regulates it until it keeps accurate time. A typical task: disassemble and inspect watch movements. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Enterprise resource planning ERP software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Watch and Clock Repairers the most?
The highest state medians for Watch and Clock Repairers are California ($110,050), New York ($95,060), Florida ($81,850) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Watchmaker?
O*NET scores Watch and Clock Repairers highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.