How to become an electrical service and maintenance mechanic or repairer
Official title: Electrical service and maintenance mechanics and repairers
Also called: Mechanic, Repairer, Service man, Service fitter, Maintenance man, Service engineer, Maintenance hand, Machine mechanic, Service mechanic, Machine repairer, Magneto repairer, Sales service man
Electrical service and maintenance mechanics and repairers maintain, service and repair domestic appliances, office machinery and electricity plant machinery, appliances and wiring.
Main tasks
- Examines drawings, specifications and wiring diagrams to determine the method and sequence of operations
- Maintains and repairs electricity plant machinery, domestic appliances, office machinery and other electrical assembly and replaces worn parts and faulty wiring
- Diagnoses faults using test equipment and investigates their causes
- Writes reports on maintenance work and implements systems to ensure all equipment is properly maintained
- Responds to call outs for unplanned/emergency repair work, both for domestic clients and in industrial settings
How to become one
Academic qualifications may not be required, though some GCSEs/S grades or an equivalent qualification may be an advantage. NVQs/SVQs are available at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships combining practical work experience and technical training are available at levels 2 and 3. Entrants must have good eyesight and normal colour vision.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Electrical, electronic product service and installation engineer (level 3). England. Typically 36 months. Skills England standard ST0150.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £41,662 a year The middle half earn £36,219 to £50,312.
- About 26,800 people work in this job now, and about 25,300 are projected by 2035. (-5.6%)
Related jobs
- Electricians and electrical fitters
- Telecoms and related network installers and repairers
- Tv, video and audio servicers and repairers
- Computer system and equipment installers and servicers
- Security system installers and repairers
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Questions people ask
How do I become an electrical service and maintenance mechanic or repairer?
Academic qualifications may not be required, though some GCSEs/S grades or an equivalent qualification may be an advantage. NVQs/SVQs are available at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships combining practical work experience and technical training are available at levels 2 and 3. Entrants must have good eyesight and normal colour vision.
How much does an electrical service and maintenance mechanic or repairer earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £41,662 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £36,219 to £50,312.
Is an electrical service and maintenance mechanic or repairer a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 6% by 2035, from about 26,800 to about 25,300 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become an electrical service and maintenance mechanic or repairer?
Usually not. Only 17% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Electrical, electronic product service and installation engineer (level 3).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03