An appliance technician drives to customers' homes to find and fix broken refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges and dishwashers. Each day is a route of several stops, with warranty jobs for the brands mixed in with paid repairs.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, household goods repair shops · BLS, May 2025
As an Appliance Technician, you will diagnose, repair, and maintain household appliances, ensuring a high standard of service delivery. Your role is crucial in enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty by effectively resolving appliance issues. You will directly contribute to the company's reputation and growth by providing expert service and maintaining high-quality standards.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Diagnose and troubleshoot appliance issues to determine the appropriate repair solutions.
Perform repairs and maintenance on a variety of household appliances, including refrigerators, ovens, washers, and dryers.
Utilize diagnostic tools and software to efficiently identify problems and solutions.
Maintain accurate records of service calls, repairs, parts used, and customer interactions in the company’s CRM system.
Ensure compliance with safety regulations and company policies during all repair activities.
Provide excellent customer service by clearly explaining repair processes and offering maintenance tips.
Manage inventory of parts and tools, ensuring availability for scheduled jobs.
Participate in ongoing training to stay updated on industry standards and new appliance technologies.
Collaborate with the service team to improve service delivery and customer satisfaction.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Review daily service schedule and prepare for appointments by gathering necessary tools and parts.
Conduct on-site visits to diagnose and repair appliances, ensuring timely completion of each job.
Provide estimates for repair costs and timeframes to customers before commencing work.
Follow up with customers post-service to ensure satisfaction and address any further concerns.
Complete and submit service reports and customer feedback forms daily.
Attend weekly team meetings to discuss performance, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
Conduct quality assurance checks on completed repairs to maintain service standards.
Engage in continuous learning through online courses and workshops.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
First-time fix rate: approximately 80-90%.
Customer satisfaction score (CSAT): ≥ 4.7/5.0.
Callback rate: ≤ 5%.
Average repair time per job: approximately 1-2 hours.
Parts usage accuracy: ≥ 95%.
30/60/90-day ramp expectations: Achieve 70% of KPI targets within 30 days, 85% within 60 days, and 100% within 90 days.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.
Certification in appliance repair (e.g., NASTeC or equivalent).
Proficiency with diagnostic tools and repair software.
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Excellent communication and customer service skills.
Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
6. Preferred Experience
2+ years of experience in appliance repair or a related field.
Familiarity with a wide range of appliance brands and models.
Experience using CRM systems for managing service records.
Knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
Comfortable working in various environments, including tight spaces and different weather conditions.
Ability to stand, bend, and kneel for extended periods.
Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Typical work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, with occasional weekends.
On-call rotation for emergency repairs may be required.
Seasonal fluctuations in workload may occur, with peak periods requiring additional hours.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Competitive hourly wage with performance-based bonuses tied to KPIs.
Payouts contingent on maintaining quality safeguards, such as high CSAT and low callback rates.
Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plan, and paid time off.
Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we pride ourselves on our commitment to craftsmanship, safety, and customer delight. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional service and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and growth. Join us in delivering top-notch appliance repair solutions and making a positive impact on our customers' lives.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
Plenty of trades send a tech into a home with a van full of parts. Appliance repair adds sealed refrigeration systems, gas burners, and a manufacturer looking over the tech's shoulder on every warranty call.
A refrigerator counts as a small appliance
Federal rules call a refrigerator, freezer, dehumidifier or window unit a small appliance when it's factory-sealed and charged with no more than five pounds of refrigerant. A tech who opens that sealed system, whether to attach gauges, charge or recover refrigerant, or cut a line, needs EPA Section 608 certification. Type I covers small appliances, and Universal covers every type. The credential doesn't expire. Source: U.S. EPA: Section 608 technician certification requirements.
Newer refrigerators run on a flammable gas
Under EPA's SNAP program, HFC-134a has been unacceptable in new household refrigerators and freezers since January 1, 2021. Isobutane, listed as R-600a, is accepted with use conditions, and EPA's table rates it A3. ASHRAE's class 3 is for highly flammable refrigerants such as hydrocarbons. So techs read the unit's label before they open a system and follow the maker's service steps for that refrigerant. Source: U.S. EPA SNAP: Substitutes in household refrigerators and freezers.
Gas ranges and dryers bring state rules
Gas appliance work can call for a state license. New Hampshire, for example, counts a domestic appliance technician among its gas fitter licenses. That license covers installing, servicing and repairing gas dryers, ranges and cooktops in homes, along with their venting. Before a tech works on a gas valve or connector for you, check what your state and city require. Source: New Hampshire RSA 153:27: Mechanical licensing definitions, including domestic appliance technician.
Warranty calls follow the brand's rules
Brands send in-warranty repairs to independent companies they authorize, and they set the terms. Whirlpool, for example, asks its authorized service companies to buy a yearly subscription to its technical references, carry set insurance, and have each technician who runs its calls complete a competency assessment. On those calls the tech records model and serial numbers, follows the brand's diagnosis steps, and orders parts the brand's way. Source: Whirlpool: Authorized independent service contractor application (ServiceMatters).
California puts the estimate in writing
California registers appliance repair businesses as service dealers. The customer gets a written estimate for parts and labor before any repair, and the shop can't charge more without the customer's consent. A diagnosis fee is disclosed in writing before a repair in the home. If you work in California, techs who quote at the kitchen table need to know these rules. Elsewhere, check your state's consumer repair laws. Source: California Bureau of Household Goods and Services: Electronic and Appliance Repair Dealer Registration Law (2024 edition).
How much appliance technicians make
The closest BLS group for appliance technicians is home appliance repairers. Home appliance repairers who work for household goods repair shops earned a median of $26.69 an hour ($55,520 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s above the $50,990 median for home appliance repairers in all industries. About 12,630 of the 32,150 home appliance repairers in that survey work for household goods repair shops.
Usually hourly plus overtime, often with a bonus for completed calls, first-visit fixes or survey scores. Warranty calls and paid repairs are sometimes paid at different rates.
Household goods repair shops
$55,520$55,520 median Middle half $44,360–$63,470 10th–90th $35,630–$80,960
All industries
$50,990$50,990 median Middle half $43,780–$63,390 10th–90th $36,190–$80,660
$30k$40k$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Household goods repair shops
$35,630
$44,360
$55,520
$63,470
$80,960
All industries
$36,190
$43,780
$50,990
$63,390
$80,660
BLS doesn’t publish pay for appliance repair companies on their own. These figures cover personal and household goods repair businesses, which include them. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Reads wiring diagrams and tech sheets, and tests boards, sensors and switches with a meter
Shuts off power, gas and water before opening a unit, and checks for leaks after
Moves heavy units without scratching floors or pulling a water line loose
Quotes repairs clearly and helps the customer weigh repair against replacement
Keeps call notes, model numbers and parts used accurate in the software
Teach these on the job
The brands you're authorized for and their warranty claim steps
Your parts ordering process and what to stock on the van
Your flat-rate prices and the way you present a quote
Sealed system work, if they hold Type I and are new to it
Your follow-up process when a part is on order
Techs work with a multimeter, hand and nut drivers, an appliance dolly, a manometer for gas pressure and a leak detector, plus refrigerant gauges and recovery gear if they do sealed system work. A tablet shows the schedule, brand tech sheets and parts lookup. In the ad, list the brands you're authorized for, the tools you supply, and who keeps the van overnight.
Appliance technician interview questions
Two of the 7 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Honest repair-or-replace advice
A customer's [12]-year-old washer needs a repair that costs more than half the price of a new one. They ask what you'd do. What do you say?
A strong answer: Lays out repair cost, the machine's overall condition and parts outlook honestly, gives a recommendation and lets the customer decide without pressure.
Behavioral · Solving intermittent problems
Tell me how you tracked down the hardest intermittent appliance problem you've solved.
A strong answer: Used error history, the diagnostic mode and careful testing to catch the fault, and confirmed the fix held.
Treat the template's targets as a rough opening bid, and reset them after three months of your own calls. Keep warranty and paid work apart, since warranty calls run on the brand's parts and claim process.
First-time fix rate
Of the repair calls a tech runs, how many end with the appliance working before they leave. Tag calls that wait on an ordered part, such as a control board, so the count shows diagnosis skill.
Customer satisfaction score (CSAT)
Monthly average of survey scores tied to the tech. Warranty customers often score the brand or the wait for parts, so sort warranty and paid calls apart before comparing techs.
Callback rate
Repeat calls for the same fault on the same appliance, counted over a period you pick, as a share of the tech's finished repairs. Review each one with the tech.
Average repair time per job
Minutes from check-in to check-out in your field software, sorted by appliance and by warranty or paid work. A sealed system job and a door gasket swap shouldn't share a target.
Parts usage accuracy
Parts installed compared with parts ordered or pulled from the van for each job. Unused parts that come back, and parts returned as not the problem, show diagnosis gaps.
30/60/90-day ramp expectations
For a new hire, review the KPIs above at day 30, 60 and 90 with their lead, and agree on which appliance types they'll run alone next.
Does an appliance technician need EPA certification?
Yes, if they will open the sealed system on a refrigerator, freezer, ice maker or window unit. Type I covers small appliances, and Universal covers all equipment types. The apprentice exception is narrow: the person must be in a federally registered apprenticeship (or one run by a state council the Labor Department recognizes), for two years at most, and closely and continually supervised by a certified tech. The Drive template doesn't list EPA certification, so add it if your techs do sealed system work.
How much does an appliance technician make?
Home appliance repairers who work for household goods repair shops earned a median of $26.69 an hour ($55,520 a year) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $44,360 and $63,470 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and overtime.
Is NASTeC certification required for appliance technicians?
No. ISCET, which runs it, calls NASTeC a voluntary national certification. A tech passes a basic skills exam plus at least one specialty: cooking, laundry and dishwashing, or refrigeration and air conditioning. The refrigeration exam needs proof of EPA refrigerant certification. Passing all four exams earns Universal Technician. The template lists NASTeC as required. Move it to preferred unless you'll only hire certified techs.
Can bonuses be based on the parts a technician replaces?
Not in California. Its appliance repair law says a service dealer may not make an employee's pay depend on the value of parts replaced in the customer's equipment. Elsewhere, look up your state's repair laws before writing a bonus plan. Bonuses tied to first-visit fixes, low callbacks or survey scores reward good repairs without pushing techs to swap parts.
Do appliance technicians install new appliances?
Some do. Installs bring their own work: leveling, venting dryers, hooking up water lines, and gas connections that may need a licensed fitter in your state. O*NET lists installs among the tasks of this job. The template is written for repair work, so add install duties only if your techs do them, and say so in the ad.
What should an appliance technician job ad include?
Name the brands you service and whether you do warranty work for them. Say how many stops a day is typical and how the route is built. List the certifications you need, including EPA Section 608 if techs work on refrigerators. Give the pay range, how bonuses work, and the on-call and Saturday schedule.
