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Appliance Service Technician Directly to the left of this help icon you will see this work indoors icon that represents where Appliance Service Technician work most of the time. If the person in the icon is standing outside the building then the work is mostly outside. A person inside respresents mostly insde work and two people (one inside and one outside) represent the work has a bit of both. By clicking the Details buttons to the left will open the page and allow you to read more about becoming a Appliance Service Technician. After you have spent some time reading and you would like to find out what schools are offering training for Appliance Service Technician click the Yes, use this career in my Journey button.

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Appliance Service Technician

work indoors

Appliance service technicians install, service, and repair household and commercial appliances such as ranges, ovens, clothes washers, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, air conditioners, microwave ovens, dishwashers, waste disposers and waste compactors.

Is this a career that interests you?

  • Related School SubjectsDetails

    Math; Science; English; Shop

  • Field of StudyDetails

    Appliance service technicians work for:

    • Aappliance dealers.
    • Independent appliance service companies.
    • Department stores.
    • Appliance manufacturers' own service departments.
    • Gas and electric utility companies.
    • Owners of rented commercial appliances.

    Appliance service technicians are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7332: Electrical Appliance Servicers and Repairers. In Alberta, 86% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

    • Other Services.
    • Retail Trade.
    • Wholesale Trade.
    • Business, Building, and Other Support Services.
  • DutiesDetails

    Appliance Service Technicians:

    • Figure out why an appliance is not working.
    • Talk to customers to find out what the problem is with an appliance.
    • Test appliances and check for faulty electrical connections.
    • Use specialized tools and testing devices to locate the source of a problem.
    • Read manuals to figure out the problem.
    • Take apart appliances, clean parts, replace parts.
    • Put appliances back together so they work properly.
    • Answer customers' questions.
    • Give cost estimates.
    • Advise customers on correct appliance use and care.
    • Show customers how to use appliances.
    • Prepare work orders.
    • Complete reports for billing.
    • And maintain records for parts inventories and service calls.
  • Working ConditionsDetails

    Location:

    • Indoors
      • Work on portable appliances in a shop.
    • Outdoors
      • Work on large appliances and work out of a truck or van carrying tools and parts.

    Hours:

    • Flexible Hours.
    • Regular Work Schedule (Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30).
    • May need to work evenings or weekends.
    • May need to work overtime in emergencies.

    Heavy Lifting:

    • When working with large appliances, lift and move over 20 kilograms.
    • Requires a lot of bending, standing, kneeling, stooping.
  • PersonalDetails

    People working in this trade need the following characteristics:

    • Good mechanical aptitude.
    • Works well with hands.
    • Good eyesight and colour vision.
    • Attention to details.
    • Able to lift items weighing over 25 kilograms.
    • Willing to keep up to date with changing technology.
    • Able to figure things out on their own.
    • A neat appearance.
    • Good customer service skills.
    • Enjoy working alone.
    • Enjoy meeting and helping people.
    • Enjoy solving problems.
  • EducationDetails

    Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates.

    To work in this trade in Alberta, at least ONE of these must be true:

    • You are a registered apprentice.
    • You are an Alberta-certified journeyperson.
    • You have a recognized related trade certificate.

    To register as an Alberta apprentice you need to have:

    • English Language Arts 20-2 or equivalent.
    • Math 20-3 or equivalent.
    • Science 10 or equivalent.
    • or able to pass the entrance exam.
    • An employer willing to train you.

    Apprenticeship term:

  • Programs OfferedDetails

    Technical training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently offered at:

    For more information, visit the Technical Training Centre on the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training website.

  • AdvancementDetails

    Job Opportunities in this trade include:

    • Self-employed with own service company.
    • Self-employed with own appliance store.
    • Factory service representative.
    • Supervise all the repair outlets in a large region.
    • Specialist positions.
    • Management or supervisory positions.
    • If you have supervisory or management experience in this trade, you may apply for an Achievement in Business Competencies Blue Seal by contacting Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.

    Job openings are affected by:

    • Current employment rates.
    • People leaving existing positions.
    • Creation of new positions that never existed before.
    • Size of the occupation.
    • Location in Alberta.

    Future Trends:

    • Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
  • SalaryDetails

    Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $20 to $30 an hour plus benefits (2009 estimate). Apprentice appliance service technicians earn at least 55 per cent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 per cent in the second and 85 per cent in the third. According to the Alberta Provincial Apprenticeship Committee for this trade, journeypersons who are self-employed or work on a commission basis may earn more depending on their skill and initiative.

    According to the 2011 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey Albertans in the Electric Appliance Servicers and Repairers occupational group earned on average from $20.46 to $28.53 an hour. The mean wage for this group was $25.05 an hour.

  • Other SourcesDetails