How much does a machine repair tech make?
a year · about $23 an hour
A typical machine repair tech in the United States makes $47,810 a year, about $23 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A machine repair tech travels to offices or stores, opens a computer, ATM, or copier, and checks its wires and moving parts. They repair or replace faulty pieces, test the machine, and record the work.
Did you know? At McMurdo Station in Antarctica, Wells Fargo flies a technician in every two years to replace ATM parts—and storms can keep the technician there for six months!
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $35,910 and $71,730How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school, then take technical classes or some college in electronics and computers; BLS lists some college as typical entry education. A registered apprenticeship or short on-the-job training can teach machine-specific repair skills.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experienced repair techs and people with sought-after certificates or skills may earn more. Pay can also differ by employer or industry, location, and hours worked; some techs travel for emergency repairs.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($58,280), lowest in South Carolina ($39,060).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,910 | $47,810 | $71,730 | about 66,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $58,280 | about 7,000 |
| New Jersey | $57,330 | about 2,000 |
| New York | $57,290 | about 3,000 |
| Massachusetts | $57,270 | about 1,000 |
| Maryland | $54,120 | about 960 |
Official definition: Repair, maintain, or install computers, word processing systems, automated teller machines, and electronic office machines, such as duplicating and fax machines.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/emp/tables/education-and-training-by-occupation.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-2011.00
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/49-2011.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes492011.htm
- www.atmmarketplace.com/articles/wells-fargo-keeps-some-of-its-atms-on-ice
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY