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Skilled Trades

Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

Install, diagnose, or repair communications, sound, security, or navigation equipment in motor vehicles.

Median salary (BLS)

$48,420

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$36k – $70k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $70,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

    Entry / Junior

    $35,590

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

    Established

    $48,420

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

    Senior

    $59,295

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Install equipment and accessories, such as stereos, navigation equipment, communication equipment, and security systems.
  • •Inspect and test electrical or electronic systems to locate and diagnose malfunctions, using visual inspections and testing instruments, such as oscilloscopes and voltmeters.
  • •Cut openings and drill holes for fixtures and equipment, using electric drills and routers.
  • •Splice wires with knives or cutting pliers, and solder connections to fixtures and equipment.
  • •Diagnose or repair problems with electronic equipment, such as sound, navigation, communication, and security equipment, in motor vehicles.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Skilled Trades

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.