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Car stereo installer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$48,420median pay per year, or $23.28 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,590lowest 10% earn less
  2. $43,31025th percentile
  3. $48,420median
  4. $58,50075th percentile
  5. $70,170top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

The median pay for electronic equipment installers and repairers of motor vehicles was $48,420 a year[1]. Employment is projected to fall 14.5% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-14.5%[2]
Openings per year
400[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do car stereo installers make?

BLS files this work under the official title Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles. Workers in the group report job titles such as Car Stereo Installer and Car Alarm Installer[7].

In May 2025, the median wage was $48,420 a year, or $23.28 an hour[1]. The median is the midpoint, so half the workers made more and half made less. The mean (average) was $51,560 a year, or $24.79 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4], so this group's median was lower.

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][9] $35,590 $17.11
25th[3][9] $43,310 $20.82
Median[1] $48,420 $23.28
75th[3][9] $58,500 $28.12
90th[3][9] $70,170 $33.74

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,590[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, both part time and full time. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 8,550 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published a median wage for 39 states[13]. Kentucky was listed first at $64,570, based on 40 jobs, followed by New York at $60,220 and Colorado at $60,070[13]. Pennsylvania was listed last at $26,640[13].

Texas had the most jobs at 1,210[14]. California had 960 and Florida had 660[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in Elkhart-Goshen, IN ($58,890), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($57,310) and Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($55,380)[15]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (390), New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ (370) and Elkhart-Goshen, IN (260)[16].

Show median pay in 39 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Kentucky[13]$64,57040
New York$60,220290
Colorado$60,070n/a
Georgia$59,550300
Washington$59,010120
Arizona$57,28040
Indiana$56,730470
Oregon$56,000200
Idaho$55,76090
Iowa$55,160n/a
West Virginia$51,89040
Montana$49,92040
Minnesota$49,740250
New Mexico$49,300160
Virginia$49,210440
Tennessee$49,140210
Texas$48,7301,210
California$48,500960
South Carolina$48,230230
Michigan$48,07080
Florida$47,980660
Hawaii$47,78070
Nebraska$47,630n/a
Massachusetts$47,590220
North Dakota$47,310100
Illinois$47,150170
North Carolina$46,850190
Nevada$46,100n/a
Ohio$45,120230
Connecticut$44,98090
Arkansas$41,51080
New Jersey$41,070170
Louisiana$41,040n/a
Missouri$38,76070
Alabama$38,52070
Mississippi$38,50090
Wisconsin$38,070n/a
Kansas$33,38090
Pennsylvania$26,640n/a

How to become a car stereo installer

The training details here come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of electrical and electronics repair jobs, not only this one[17].

Certifications are not required for the job, but they can show specific knowledge[20].

In an ONET survey of 22 workers, 47% said a post-secondary certificate is required and 45% said a high school diploma or equivalent[21]. ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, which it calls medium preparation[22].

What car stereo installers do

O*NET describes the work as installing, diagnosing or repairing communications, sound, security or navigation equipment in motor vehicles[23]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

For the wider group of electrical and electronics repairers, BLS says many work in repair shops or factories. Some work outdoors in all kinds of weather, and travel to job sites may be needed[25]. The work can involve lifting heavy equipment and working in awkward positions, and much of the day is spent walking, standing or kneeling[26].

Full time is the usual schedule in the wider group, and some workers may be on call evenings or weekends for emergency repairs[27]. Manufacturing employed 17% of the wider group in 2025[28].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 14.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 8,600 to 7,400 jobs, a loss of 1,300[2]. For all occupations, the projected change is growth of 3.5%[29]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS figure of about 8,550 jobs counts wage and salary workers only[12].

Even with the decline, BLS expects about 400 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.2% of workers leave the labor force and 5% move to a different occupation[30].

For comparison, O*NET lists related jobs such as Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, with a median of $50,620 and projected growth of 5%[31]. It also lists Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers, with a median of $60,070 and projected growth of 6.8%[31].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay of $48,420 was a little below the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][4]. The typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with on-the-job training after hiring[6]. Employment is projected to shrink 14.5% while all occupations grow 3.5%[2][29], and the job count is small[12]. Pay differs by place, with state medians ranging from $26,640 to $64,570[13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[31].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a car stereo installer make an hour?
The median wage for electronic equipment installers and repairers of motor vehicles was $23.28 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $24.79[1][8]. The 10th percentile was $17.11 and the 90th was $33.74[9].
What education do you need to be a car stereo installer?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 47% said a post-secondary certificate is required[21].
Is car stereo installation in demand?
BLS projects employment to fall 14.5% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][29]. About 400 openings a year are still projected[5].
What is the highest paying state for car stereo installers?
Kentucky was listed first with a median of $64,570 based on 40 jobs, then New York at $60,220 and Colorado at $60,070[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles in the US was $48,420 per year and $23.28 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles is projected to decline 14.5% from 2025 to 2035, from about 8,600 to 7,400 jobs (a change of -1,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles: 10th percentile $35,590, 25th percentile $43,310, 75th percentile $58,500, 90th percentile $70,170. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 400 openings for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. O*NET 49-2096.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Auto Tech (Automotive Technician), Car Alarm Installer, Car Electronics Installer, Car Stereo Installer, Electronic Equipment Installer, Electronic Technician, Installation Technician, Installer. O*NET OnLine
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles was $51,560 per year and $24.79 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles: 10th percentile $17.11, 25th percentile $20.82, 75th percentile $28.12, 90th percentile $33.74. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 8,550 people were employed as Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles jobs: Texas 1,210; California 960; Florida 660; Indiana 470; Virginia 440. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles (areas with at least 100 jobs): Elkhart-Goshen, IN $58,890; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $57,310; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $55,380; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $54,930; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $52,180; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $49,850; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $49,740; Albuquerque, NM $49,640. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles jobs: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 390 (median $52,180); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 370 (median $54,930); Elkhart-Goshen, IN 260 (median $58,890); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 230 (median $49,850); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 210 (median $49,740); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 200 (median $44,110). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers" covers Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 49-2096.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 47%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 45% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET 49-2096.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET description of Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET task list for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of electrical and electronics installers and repairers in 2025: Manufacturing 17%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles: 2.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  31. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.