Occupation Details
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Work Values
Working Conditions
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Relationships
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$46,620.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$56,850.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$58,290.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
310
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
380
+7 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
41
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.2%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
College Helps - Some college classes or training
Experience Requirements
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.
Education Requirements
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training Details
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
State License and Certifications Requirements are not currently associated with this occupation.
Apprenticeship
Contact your regional representative to learn more about apprenticeships available in your area by visiting Apprenticeship Contacts.
Skills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Independence
Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Abrasive blasting machines
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Air grinders
- Alignment lasers
- Analog ohmmeters
- Arbor presses
- Armature air gap gauges
- Armature winders
- Automatic wire strippers
- Bake ovens
- Bar-to-bar testers
- Bearing setting tools
- Bench ammeters
- Bench grinders
- Bench voltmeters
- Brazing machines
- Cabinet-tip screwdrivers
- Cable cutters
- Carburetor synchronizers
- Chamfer mills
- Clamp ammeters
- Clamp voltmeters
- Coil cut-off machines
- Commutator grinders
- Commutator undercutters
- Conduit-fitting and reaming screwdrivers
- Cordless soldering irons
- Core-loss testers
- Dead blow hammers
- Diagonal-cutting pliers
Technology
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Commutator profiling software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Motor testing software
- Python
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- maintain inventory of supplies
- determine installation, service, or repair needed
- apply cleaning solvents
- move or fit heavy objects
- maintain production or work records
- assemble gear systems
- sharpen metal objects
- fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
- perform safety inspections in industrial, manufacturing or repair setting
- operate coil winding machines
- operate lathes
- solder electrical or electronic connections or components
- use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
- use hand or power tools
- use measuring devices in repairing industrial or heavy equipment
- use pneumatic tools
- use precision measuring devices in mechanical repair work
- use voltmeter, ammeter, or ohmmeter
- use high voltage apparatus
- solder metal parts or components together
- use soldering equipment
- operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
- inspect transformer for defects
- signal directions or warnings to coworkers
- test mechanical products or equipment
- maintain or repair industrial or related equipment/machinery
- maintain or repair work tools or equipment
- lubricate machinery, equipment, or parts
- clean equipment or machinery
- inspect machinery or equipment to determine adjustments or repairs needed
- install or replace meters, regulators, or related measuring or control devices
- install/connect electrical equipment to power circuit
- repair or replace electrical wiring, circuits, fixtures, or equipment
- service batteries or transformers with specified fluids
- test electrical/electronic wiring, equipment, systems or fixtures
- repair electrical transformers
- read blueprints
- read schematics
- read technical drawings
- read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
- distinguish colors
- understand service or repair manuals
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Inspect and test equipment to locate damage or worn parts and diagnose malfunctions, or read work orders or schematic drawings to determine required repairs.
- Verify and adjust alignments and dimensions of parts, using gauges and tracing lathes.
- Reassemble repaired electric motors to specified requirements and ratings, using hand tools and electrical meters.
- Measure velocity, horsepower, revolutions per minute (rpm), amperage, circuitry, and voltage of units or parts to diagnose problems, using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, and other testing devices.
- Repair and rebuild defective mechanical parts in electric motors, generators, and related equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Lift units or parts such as motors or generators, using cranes or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to lift heavy parts or subassemblies.
- Record repairs required, parts used, and labor time.
- Disassemble defective equipment so that repairs can be made, using hand tools.
- Adjust working parts, such as fan belts, contacts, and springs, using hand tools and gauges.
- Steam-clean polishing and buffing wheels to remove abrasives and bonding materials, and spray, brush, or recoat surfaces as necessary.
- Set machinery for proper performance, using computers.
- Lubricate moving parts.
- Read service guides to find information needed to perform repairs.
- Inspect electrical connections, wiring, relays, charging resistance boxes, and storage batteries, following wiring diagrams.
- Test equipment for overheating, using speed gauges and thermometers.
- Reface, ream, and polish commutators and machine parts to specified tolerances, using machine tools.
- Maintain stocks of parts.
- Cut and form insulation, and insert insulation into armature, rotor, or stator slots.
- Scrape and clean units or parts, using cleaning solvents and equipment such as buffing wheels.
- Assemble electrical parts such as alternators, generators, starting devices, and switches, following schematic drawings and using hand, machine, and power tools.
- Bolt porcelain insulators to wood parts to assemble hot stools.
- Solder, wrap, and coat wires to ensure proper insulation.
- Rewire electrical systems, and repair or replace electrical accessories.
- Clean cells, cell assemblies, glassware, leads, electrical connections, and battery poles, using scrapers, steam, water, emery cloths, power grinders, or acid.
- Rewind coils on cores in slots, or make replacement coils, using coil-winding machines.
- Test conditions, fluid levels, and specific gravities of electrolyte cells, using voltmeters, hydrometers, and thermometers.
- Weld, braze, or solder electrical connections.
- Add water or acid to battery cell solutions to obtain specified concentrations.
- Pour compounds into transformer-case terminal openings to seal out moisture.
- Remove and replace defective parts such as coil leads, carbon brushes, and wires, using soldering equipment.
- Hammer out dents and twists in tools and equipment.
- Drain and filter transformer oil and refill transformers with oil until coils are submerged.
- Seal joints with putty, mortar, and asbestos, using putty extruders and knives.
- Repair and operate battery-charging equipment.
- Sharpen tools such as saws, picks, shovels, screwdrivers, and scoops, either manually or by using bench grinders and emery wheels.
- Inspect batteries for structural defects such as dented cans, damaged carbon rods and terminals, and defective seals.
- Test battery charges, and replace or recharge batteries as necessary.
- Position and level battery cells, anodes, or cathodes, using hoists or leveling jacks, or signal other workers to perform positioning and leveling.
- Clean, rinse, and dry transformer cases, using boiling water, scrapers, solvents, hoses, and cloths.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Electrical Products Repairers
Visit this link for information on this career in the military.
Learn MoreElectrical and electronics installers and repairers
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn More