Electrical and electronics installers and repairers install, maintain and repair equipment such as industrial controls, electric motors and power tools, transportation and vehicle electronics, and powerhouse and substation equipment. They talk with customers, test equipment, diagnose problems, replace components and keep repair records. The work is hands-on, and the BLS sees different trends in each specialty.
The short answer: low exposure, with slow growth. The ILO's 2025 index rates electronics mechanics and servicers as not exposed at 0.25, and electrical mechanics and fitters at 0.17. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 8,900 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed electronics repairers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Electronics Mechanics and Servicers | Not exposed | 0.25 |
| Electrical Mechanics and Fitters | Not exposed | 0.17 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so these are the closest groups for electrical and electronics repairers, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and electronics installers and repairers | Grow 2% | About 8,900 |
The BLS describes mixed trends. Better equipment design and more disposable parts are expected to limit demand, and automation and digital industrial control systems reduce the need for hard-wired electronics. Upgrades to transportation electronics support some demand, and strain on the electrical grid is expected to raise demand for powerhouse and substation repairers. Smartphone features reduce demand for aftermarket vehicle electronics installation. Most projected openings come from replacing workers who leave or retire.
Where AI is helping
- Searching manuals, schematics and fault codes for a person to check.
- Drafting repair records and parts lists.
- Suggesting likely causes from test results.
What stays with electronics repairers
- Diagnosis: reproducing and isolating a fault on real equipment.
- Repairs: taking equipment apart, replacing components and testing it again.
- Safety: working with live electrical systems and heavy equipment.
- Checking AI help: generated diagnoses can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
According to the BLS, demand is shifting toward grid and substation work and transportation electronics, and away from hard-wired controls and aftermarket vehicle installs. Repairers who follow those shifts are better placed. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace electricians?, will AI replace telecommunications technicians? and will AI replace power line workers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for electrical and electronics installers and repairers at $74,490 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The BLS says the education needed to enter varies; its profile explains the routes in. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace electronics repairers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 2 percent growth for electrical and electronics installers and repairers from 2025 to 2035, with about 8,900 openings a year.
How exposed are electronics repairers to AI?
The ILO rates electronics mechanics and servicers as not exposed at 0.25, and electrical mechanics and fitters at 0.17.
Which specialties are growing?
The BLS expects grid strain to raise demand for powerhouse and substation repairers, and transportation electronics upgrades to support some demand.
What limits demand?
Better equipment design, disposable parts, digital industrial controls and smartphone features that reduce aftermarket vehicle installs.