Wages of appliance repair technicians vary widely among metropolitan areas

A November 1981 survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on pay levels for technicians repairing major consumer electrical products in 19 urban areas indicates that these pay levels averaged from $7.93 per hour in Buffalo (New York), to $10.43 per hour in San Francisco-Oakland (California). These technicians were working in a variety of appliance repair facilities. About 66% specialized in working on either television sets, radios, and tape players, or major household appliances. Typically, their average earnings in individual areas were between $7 and $9 per hour. Electrical appliance technicians generally averaged a higher wage rate (between 2% and 10%) than their television and radio counterparts. These differences were primarily explained by: 1. industry, 2. union status, and 3. size of the repair facility.