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Watch and Clock Repairers

ManufacturingO*NET 49-9064.00United States

Repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks. Includes watchmakers, watch technicians, and mechanical timepiece repairers.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$55,779

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
−18.8%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
Certificate

45.8% of the workforce

Employment
2.4K jobs

Growing to 1.95K by 2035

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Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What watch and clock repairers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Clean, rinse, and dry timepiece parts, using solutions and ultrasonic or mechanical watch-cleaning machines.
  • Reassemble timepieces, replacing glass faces and batteries, before returning them to customers.
  • Adjust timing regulators, using truing calipers, watch-rate recorders, and tweezers.
  • Disassemble timepieces and inspect them for defective, worn, misaligned, or rusty parts, using loupes.
  • Oil moving parts of timepieces.
  • Repair or replace broken, damaged, or worn parts on timepieces, using lathes, drill presses, and hand tools.
  • Estimate repair costs and timepiece values.
  • 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.
  • Gather information from customers about a timepiece's problems and its service history.
  • Test and replace batteries and other electronic components.
  • Record quantities and types of timepieces repaired, serial and model numbers of items, work performed, and charges for repairs.
  • Demagnetize mechanisms, using demagnetizing machines.
  • Fabricate parts for watches and clocks, using small lathes and other machines.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$23,874
25th percentile
$36,536
50th percentile
$55,779
75th percentile
$85,446
90th percentile
$127,986

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $55,779 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−18.8%projected to decline
20252,401 jobs
2035 projected1,949 jobs

452 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

Certificate
45.8%
High school diploma or less
23.6%
Associate degree
21.5%
Some college
7.5%
Bachelor's degree
1.7%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Gaskets
  • Workflow Management
  • Disassembler
  • EnCase (Digital Intelligence Software)
  • Parts Cleaning
  • Manual Dexterity
  • Refinishing
  • Authentications
  • Mechanical Aptitude
  • Hand Tools
  • Lubrication
  • Hydrostatic Testing
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Micrometer
  • Precision Tools
  • Service-Level Agreement
  • Brand Management
  • Continuous Improvement Process
  • Customer Communications Management
  • Equipment Repair

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Equipment Selection
Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Watchmakers148 postings
  2. 02Dispatch Technicians14 postings
  3. 03Repair Technicians8 postings
  4. 04Batch Makers5 postings
  5. 05Luxury Specialists4 postings
  6. 06Lead Jewelry Consultants2 postings
  7. 07Apprentice Technicians1 postings
  8. 08Diesel Technicians Level a1 postings
  9. 09Excel Experts1 postings
  10. 10Flagship Store Managers1 postings
  11. 11Laptop Repair Technicians1 postings
  12. 12Mechanical Repair Technicians1 postings
  13. 13Placement Specialists1 postings
  14. 14Retail Experience Managers1 postings
  15. 15Sales Associates/Device Repair Technicians1 postings
  16. 16Training Technicians1 postings
  17. 17Watch Analysts1 postings
  18. 18Watch Supervisors1 postings
  19. 19Water Service Technicians1 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Stoll & Co25 postings
  2. 02Swatch Group25 postings
  3. 03Ben Bridge Jeweler8 postings
  4. 04Richemont7 postings
  5. 05Signet Jewelers5 postings
  6. 06M & G Jewelers4 postings
  7. 07Swisswatchexpo4 postings
  8. 08Bucherer Ag3 postings
  9. 09Chrono Sky3 postings
  10. 10Fink's Jewelers3 postings
  11. 11Jewel-Craft3 postings
  12. 12Meierotto Jewelers3 postings
  13. 13Ace Hardware2 postings
  14. 14Aerotek2 postings
  15. 15Borsheims2 postings
  16. 16Citizen Watch Company of America2 postings
  17. 17Crown & Caliber2 postings
  18. 18Perpetual Time2 postings
  19. 19Reis-Nichols Jewelers2 postings
  20. 20Sterling International Gmbh2 postings

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