More than 1 out of 10 was self-employed. Almost 2 out of 3 salaried repairers worked in retail establishments such as department stores, household appliance stores, and fuel dealers. Others worked for gas and electric utility companies, electrical repair shops, and wholesalers. Appliance and power tool repairers are employed in almost every community, but jobs are concentrated in the more highly populated areas. Training , Other Qualifications, and Advancement Employers generally require a high school diploma for home appliance and power tool repairer jobs.
Many repairers learn the trade primarily on the job.
Mechanical aptitude is desirable, and those who work in customers' homes must be courteous and tactful. Courses in basic electricity and electronics are becoming increasingly necessary as more manufacturers are installing circuit boards and other electronic control systems in home appliances. Regardless of whether their basic skills are developed through formal training or on the job, trainees usually get additional training from their employer. In shops that fix portable appliances, they work on a single type of appliance, such as vacuum cleaners, until they master its repair. Then they move on to others, until they can repair all those handled by the shop.