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Piano technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$46,420median pay per year, or $22.32 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $31,220lowest 10% earn less
  2. $37,67025th percentile
  3. $46,420median
  4. $58,43075th percentile
  5. $71,600top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Musical instrument repairers and tuners, the BLS group that includes piano technicians, had a median wage of $46,420 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow more slowly than the rate for all occupations from 2025 to 2035[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+1.9%[2]
Openings per year
600[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do piano technicians make?

The median wage for musical instrument repairers and tuners was $46,420 a year, or $22.32 an hour[1]. That sits below the $50,980 median for all occupations[5]. The average was higher, at $49,960 a year and $24.02 an hour[8].

The range is wide:

Level Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[4][9] $31,220 $15.01
25th percentile[4][9] $37,670 $18.11
Median[1] $46,420 $22.32
75th percentile[4][9] $58,430 $28.09
90th percentile[4][9] $71,600 $34.42

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31,220, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $71,600[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover about 5,380 people paid a wage or salary[11]. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and benefits[12]. In 2025, 8.4% of workers in this group were self-employed, so their earnings are not in the wage data[13].

Pay by state and city

Michigan had the highest median wage at $59,570[14]. New Jersey and Tennessee followed at $58,730 each[14]. Texas had the most jobs with 580, then California with 520 and Tennessee with 300[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin had the highest median at $61,300[16]. New York-Newark-Jersey City came next at $58,730[16], then Chicago-Naperville-Elgin at $58,170[16]. New York-Newark-Jersey City had the most jobs, 310[17], and Nashville had 240[17].

Show median pay in 34 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Michigan[14]$59,570210
New Jersey$58,730200
Tennessee$58,730300
Maryland$55,130160
Oregon$54,80040
New York$53,420270
Connecticut$52,94040
Utah$50,18060
Illinois$49,250200
Maine$48,53090
Texas$48,250580
California$47,580520
Pennsylvania$47,520240
Missouri$47,220110
Massachusetts$46,820130
North Dakota$46,78030
Wisconsin$46,540180
Virginia$45,140120
South Carolina$44,87090
Minnesota$44,230100
Florida$44,030140
Kansas$43,68080
Colorado$43,67070
Washington$43,330150
North Carolina$42,970n/a
Ohio$39,900230
West Virginia$38,92030
Iowa$38,70090
Nevada$38,50090
Indiana$38,440150
Arizona$37,850110
Oklahoma$31,16060
Georgia$29,640100
Mississippi$23,980n/a

How to become a piano technician

BLS describes the usual path into this group in three parts[7]:

In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 55% said a post-secondary certificate is the education required[18]. Another 18% said less than a high school diploma, 9% said a high school diploma or equivalent, and 9% said a bachelor's degree[18]. The survey is small, so treat it as a rough picture.

O*NET places the job in Job Zone Three, which means medium preparation is needed[19]. Our facts do not say how long an apprenticeship takes.

What piano technicians and other instrument repairers do

O*NET describes the work as repairing percussion, stringed, reed or wind instruments. Some workers specialize in one area, such as piano tuning[20]. Sample job titles include piano tuner, piano technician, guitar repairer and luthier[21]. Common tasks are[22]:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,000 to 6,100 jobs[2]. That is a gain of about 100 jobs[2]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[3].

BLS expects about 600 openings a year on average[6]. Openings come from workers who leave the field as well as from new jobs[6]. Each year, 5% of workers leave the labor force and 4.6% move to a different occupation[23].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a small field with a median wage below the all-occupations median[1][5]. The entry path asks for a high school diploma and an apprenticeship, with no related experience[7]. Growth is slower than average, but about 600 openings a year are expected[2][3][6]. Pay varies a lot by state, from $59,570 in Michigan to $23,980 in Mississippi[14]. Someone who likes hands-on repair and fine tuning work may find the task list a close match[22].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a piano technician make an hour?
For musical instrument repairers and tuners, the median wage was $22.32 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $15.01 and the 90th was $34.42[9].
What education do you need to be a piano technician?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent for entry, with apprenticeship training and no related work experience[7].
Is piano technician work in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 1.9% from 2025 to 2035[2], against 3.5% for all occupations[3]. About 600 openings a year are expected[6].
What is the highest paying state for instrument repairers and tuners?
Michigan, with a median of $59,570 a year in May 2025[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners in the US was $46,420 per year and $22.32 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners is projected to grow 1.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 6,000 to 6,100 jobs (a change of +100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners: 10th percentile $31,220, 25th percentile $37,670, 75th percentile $58,430, 90th percentile $71,600. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 600 openings for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners 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
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Apprenticeship. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners was $49,960 per year and $24.02 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners: 10th percentile $15.01, 25th percentile $18.11, 75th percentile $28.09, 90th percentile $34.42. 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, May 2025: about 5,380 people were employed as Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 8.4% of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners jobs: Texas 580; California 520; Tennessee 300; New York 270; Pennsylvania 240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners (areas with at least 100 jobs): Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $61,300; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $58,730; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $58,170; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $53,110; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $51,880; Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $49,950; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $47,580. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 310 (median $58,730); Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 240 (median $61,300); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 190 (median $47,580); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 170 (median $53,110); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 160 (median $51,880); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 150 (median $58,170). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. O*NET 49-9063.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 55%, Less than a High School Diploma 18%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 9%, Bachelor's Degree 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 49-9063.00: 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
  20. O*NET description of Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET 49-9063.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Brass Instrument Repair Technician (Brass Instrument Repair Tech), Fretted String Instrument Repairer, Guitar Repairer, Instrument Repair Technician (Instrument Repair Tech), Luthier, Musical Instrument Repair Technician (Musical Instrument Repair Tech), Piano Technician (Piano Tech), Piano Tuner. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners. O*NET OnLine
  23. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners: 5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  24. 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.

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.