Career profile for Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic

What does an Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic do?

Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics install, repair, or adjust audio or television receivers, stereo systems, camcorders, video systems, or other electronic entertainment equipment in homes or other venues.

In addition, Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics may perform routine maintenance.

What kind of tasks does an Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic perform regularly?

Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

Disassemble entertainment equipment and repair or replace loose, worn, or defective components and wiring, using hand tools and soldering irons.
Install, service, and repair electronic equipment or instruments such as televisions, radios, and videocassette recorders.
Calibrate and test equipment, and locate circuit and component faults, using hand and power tools and measuring and testing instruments such as resistance meters and oscilloscopes.
Confer with customers to determine the nature of problems or to explain repairs.
Tune or adjust equipment and instruments to obtain optimum visual or auditory reception, according to specifications, manuals, and drawings.
Instruct customers on the safe and proper use of equipment.
Compute cost estimates for labor and materials.
Read and interpret electronic circuit diagrams, function block diagrams, specifications, engineering drawings, and service manuals.
Keep records of work orders and test and maintenance reports.
Make service calls to repair units in customers' homes, or return units to shops for major repairs.

The above responsibilities are specific to Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics. More generally, Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics are involved in several broader types of activities:

Activities	Importance	Details
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge		Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Getting Information		Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment		Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events		Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems		Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Getting Information

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment

Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

What is an Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic salary?

The median salary for an Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic is $41,460, and the average salary is $44,850. Both the median and average roughly describe the middle of the Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic salary range, but the average is more easily affected by extremely high or low salaries.

Many Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics earn significantly more or less than the average, due to several factors. About 10% of Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics earn less than $26,640 per year, 25% earn less than $33,760, 75% earn less than $54,450, and 90% earn less than $66,120.

Between the years of 2020 and 2030, the number of Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics is expected to change by -3.7%, and there should be roughly 3,000 open positions for Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics every year.

Median annual salary: $41,460
Typical salary range: $26,640 - $66,120
Projected growth (2020 - 2030): -3.7%

What personality traits are common among Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as an Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic are usually higher in their Realistic and Conventional interests.

Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics typically have very strong Realistic interests. 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.

Also, Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics typically have moderate Conventional interests. 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.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as an Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic tend to value Support, Relationships, and Independence.

Most importantly, Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics moderately value Support. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Second, Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics moderately value 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.

Lastly, Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics moderately value Independence. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics must consistently demonstrate qualities such as attention to detail, dependability, and persistence.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics, ranked by importance:

Demands	Importance	Details
Attention to Detail		Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability		Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Persistence		Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Cooperation		Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Self-Control		Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Persistence

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Cooperation

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Self-Control

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

What education and training do Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics need?

Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics often have training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics 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 this occupation.

Educational degrees among Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics

5.2% did not complete high school or secondary school
35.7% completed high school or secondary school
29.9% completed some college coursework
15.3% earned a Associate's degree
11.7% earned a Bachelor's degree
2.2% earned a Master's degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics

Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics may benefit from understanding of specialized subject areas, such as customer and personal service, computers and electronics, or engineering and technology knowledge.

The list below shows several areas in which most Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics might want to build proficiency, ranked by importance.

Knowledge areas	Importance	Details
Customer and Personal Service		Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Computers and Electronics		Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Engineering and Technology		Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Telecommunications		Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Mathematics		Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Telecommunications

Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Important Abilities needed by Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics

Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics need abilities such as finger dexterity, visualization, and problem sensitivity in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics, ranked by their relative importance.

Abilities	Importance	Details
Finger Dexterity		The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Visualization		The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Problem Sensitivity		The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Near Vision		The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Deductive Reasoning		The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Finger Dexterity

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Critical Skills needed by Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics frequently use skills like troubleshooting, repairing, and quality control analysis to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Audiovisual Equipment Mechanics, ranked by their relative importance.

Skills	Importance	Details
Troubleshooting		Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing		Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Quality Control Analysis		Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension		Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Complex Problem Solving		Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Repairing

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this information, please send a message.

Career profile Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic

Audiovisual Equipment Mechanic

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