SOC 49-2096.00

    Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles

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

    Median pay
    $48,420
    Growth
    -14.5%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    400
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $35,590
    Median
    $48,420
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $70,170
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    8,550 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Motor vehicle electronic equipment installers and repairers set up and fix sound, security, navigation, and communication systems in vehicles. They earn a median annual pay of $48,420.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

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

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    People in this career work with their hands to install, diagnose, and repair electronic systems in cars and trucks. Their daily tasks involve gathering information, solving complex problems, and working with computers and mechanical systems. They must identify specific objects and actions, make decisions, and handle physical equipment safely. Key skills for this role include troubleshooting, repairing, critical thinking, and active listening to understand customer needs.

    This profession attracts individuals with realistic interests who enjoy practical, hands-on activities. To succeed, workers must show strong attention to detail, dependability, and cautiousness. They need a solid foundation in mechanical systems, computers, electronics, and mathematics, alongside customer service skills to interact with vehicle owners.

    How to get there

    To enter this field, workers typically need a high school diploma. However, the career generally requires medium preparation, which often includes vocational training, an associate degree, or related hands-on experience. Students interested in this path often major in vehicle maintenance and repair technologies or technician programs.

    While not always mandatory, several certifications can help workers demonstrate their skills. Relevant certifications include AC/DC Systems from the National Coalition of Certification Centers, the Battery, Starting and Charging Certification from Snap-on Industrial, and both the Electrician and Managing Electrical Hazards certifications from the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for these installers and repairers was $48,420. Earnings vary based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $35,590 and the highest 10% earning more than $70,170.

    There are 8,550 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to decline by -14.5%. Despite this projected decrease in total jobs, about 400 openings are still expected to become available each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    41 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    5 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    0 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    56 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    94
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    89
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    89
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    88
    Handling and Moving Objects
    85
    Working with Computers
    74
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    71
    Processing Information
    70
    Thinking Creatively
    70
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    69
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Repairing
    • Troubleshooting
    • Critical Thinking
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Active Listening
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Installation
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Time Management

    Knowledge

    • Mechanical
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Mathematics
    • English Language
    • Engineering and Technology
    • Education and Training
    • Administration and Management
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Design

    Abilities

    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Finger Dexterity
    • Near Vision
    • Visual Color Discrimination
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Extent Flexibility
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Visualization
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Manual Dexterity

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Perseverance
    • Integrity
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Adaptability
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Self-Control

    Also called

    Auto Tech (Automotive Technician) · Car Alarm Installer · Car Audio Installer · Car Electronics Installer · Car Stereo Installer · Electronic Equipment Installer · Electronic Technician · Electronics Installer · Equipment Installer · GPS Car Navigation Installer (Global Positioning System Car Navigation Installer)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles$48,420 median pay
    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide

      Daytona Beach, FL · Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $77,491
      4 yrs after
      $87,797
      Median debt
      $21,986
    2. 2SUNY Morrisville logo
      SUNY Morrisville

      Morrisville, NY · Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $51,819
      4 yrs after
      $61,351
      Median debt
      Not reported

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Questions about electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    Workers in this field are also known as car audio installers, car electronics installers, auto techs, car stereo installers, and GPS car navigation installers.

    What college majors are related to this job?

    Students can prepare for this career by majoring in vehicle maintenance and repair technologies/technicians.

    What are some similar careers in the electronics and repair field?

    Related careers include automotive service technicians and mechanics, avionics technicians, audiovisual equipment installers and repairers, and electrical and electronics repairers for commercial and industrial equipment.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.