Career Overview
Repair, clean, and adjust mechanisms of timing instruments, such as watches and clocks. Includes watchmakers, watch technicians, and mechanical timepiece repairers.
Also Known As
- Clock Repairer
- Watch and Clock Repairer
- Watch Estimator
- Watch Technician (Watch Tech)
Alternate Job Titles
- Antique Clock Repairer
- Antique Clocks Repairer
- Auto Clocks Repairer
- Caser
- Chronometer Repairer
- Clock Mechanic
- Clock Repair Technician
- Clock Repairer
- Clocksmith
- Crowner
- Dial Printer
- Electric Clock Mechanic
- Horologist
- Pallet Inspector
- Pallet Repairer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Clean, rinse, and dry timepiece parts, using solutions and ultrasonic or mechanical watch-cleaning machines.
- Adjust timing regulators, using truing calipers, watch-rate recorders, and tweezers.
- Reassemble timepieces, replacing glass faces and batteries, before returning them to customers.
- Disassemble timepieces and inspect them for defective, worn, misaligned, or rusty parts, using loupes.
- Oil moving parts of timepieces.
- Estimate repair costs and timepiece values.
- Repair or replace broken, damaged, or worn parts on timepieces, using lathes, drill presses, and hand tools.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Mechanical
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Repairing
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Finger Dexterity
- Near Vision
- Control Precision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Manual Dexterity
- Information Ordering
- Visualization
- Problem Sensitivity
- Category Flexibility
- Oral Comprehension
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Perseverance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Support
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Arbor straighteners
- Audio probes
- Beat amplifiers
- Beat setters
- Bench knives
- Bench polishers
- Brushing tools
- Busch burs
- Case knives
- Case openers
- Clock timers
- Degree gauges
- Demagnetizing machines
- Escape wheel straighteners
- Fan gauges
Work Environment
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Spend Time Sitting
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $39,920 |
| Median | $60,690 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $92,570 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 1,300
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $40,790
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $53,990
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $45,190
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $41,690
Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $47,350
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.