How much does a watch repairer make?
a year · about $32 an hour
A typical watch repairer in the United States makes $67,230 a year, about $32 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
At a bench, a watch repairer takes a watch apart, cleans tiny parts, fixes or replaces worn pieces, then rebuilds it and checks that it keeps time. They may estimate repairs, talk with customers, and record the work.
Did you know? If a watch company will not sell a needed spare part, a repairer may make the tiny part himself.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $34,240 and $109,990How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school, then train at a watchmaking school or in an apprenticeship; expect long on-the-job training. Some WOSTEP programs require age 18 and a diploma or GED; AWCI offers written and hands-on certification tests.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, repairers with more experience or valued watchmaking certificates may earn more. Pay can also vary by employer and location, and complex or specialized repairs may call for higher-level skills.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in California ($110,050), lowest in Colorado ($49,990).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $34,240 | $67,230 | $109,990 | about 1,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $110,050 | — |
| New York | $95,060 | — |
| Florida | $81,850 | — |
| Virginia | $80,410 | — |
| Maryland | $62,440 | — |
Official definition: Repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks. Includes watchmakers, watch technicians, and mechanical timepiece repairers. Excludes "Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters” (51-2061).
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.onetonline.org/link/summary/49-9064.00
- www.bls.gov/ooh/occupation-finder.htm?start=125
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.awci.com/educationcareers/research-and-education-council-rec-schools-u-s/
- www.awci.com/become-a-certified-watchmaker/
- www.inquirer.com/news/whittles-watch-repair-wayne-rolex-clock-20191223.html
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY