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Salary comparison

Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: Who Earns More?

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics out-earn Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners by $4K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners land at $46,420 and Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics at $50,620. The education gap is real: musical instrument repairers and tuner programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while automotive service technicians and mechanic programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners is Michigan ($59,570); for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics it's District of Columbia ($68,660).

Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Median salary
$46,420
$50,620
Hourly rate
$22.32/hr
$24.34/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$31,220
$34,660
Senior level (90th %)
$71,600
$81,790
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
5,380
704,640
Job growth (10-year)
1.4%
4.2%
Category
Repair & Maintenance
Repair & Maintenance
Top-paying state
Michigan
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners median pay.

State
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Michigan
$59,570
$54,120
New Jersey
$58,730
$56,610
Maryland
$55,130
$57,520
Oregon
$54,800
$58,520
New York
$53,420
$54,120
Connecticut
$52,940
$60,220
Maine
$48,530
$52,040
California
$47,580
$64,980
Massachusetts
$46,820
$60,760
North Dakota
$46,780
$57,360
Wisconsin
$46,540
$54,350
Virginia
$45,140
$59,330
Minnesota
$44,230
$58,390
Colorado
$43,670
$61,280
Washington
$43,330
$57,270

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics earn more nationally. The median is $46,420 for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners versus $50,620 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, a difference of $4K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics has the better 10-year outlook at 4.2% projected growth, compared to 1.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners get paid the most?

Michigan is the top-paying state for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners at $59,570/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Michigan, Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners earn $59,570 vs. $54,120 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners salary breakdownView →Full Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary breakdownView →Best cities for Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics by take-home payExplore →How to become a musical instrument repairers and tunersGuide →How to become a automotive service technicians and mechanicsGuide →