Maintenance and repair of business and office machines is the work of business machine service technicians. Most of these technicians work for business machine manufacturers and dealers or repair shops; a few work for large organizations that have enough machines to employ an in-house, full-time technician.
The majority of business machine service technicians work on typewriters, calculators, adding machines, copiers, and duplicating equipment. A few repair and service dictating machines, and some service accounting-bookkeeping machines, cash registers, and postage and mailing equipment.
Technicians usually specialize in one type of business machine, such as typewriters or copiers. Those who work for a manufacturer or dealer probably service only the brand produced or sold by their employer.
Related jobs are appliance repairer, computer service technician, communications equipment mechanic, and television and radio service technician.
Places of employment and working conditions
Business machine service technicians work in communities of all sizes throughout the country. Even small communities have at least one repair shop or self-employed technician.
Servicing business machines is cleaner work than most mechanical jobs, and business machine service technicians usually wear business clothes. There are no slow periods since business machines must be serviced regardless of slack economic periods.
Qualifications, education, and training
Mechanical ability, manual dexterity, good eyesight and hearing, and the ability to work without supervision are required for this work. Since these technicians work directly with the customer, they must also be pleasant and tactful.
High school classes in electrical shop, mechanical drawing, mathematics, and physics are helpful.
There are no specific educational requirements for this field, but many employers prefer some technical training in electricity or electronics. Courses are available at trade and technical schools and junior and community colleges. Training received in the armed forces is also valuable.
Trainees who are hired by a manufacturer or dealer attend a training program sponsored by the manufacturer. Such programs last from several weeks to several months and are followed by one to three years of on-the-job training. Training offered by independent repair shops is less formal but basically the same.
All business machine service technicians keep up with technological changes by attending frequent training seminars sponsored by manufacturers when new machines are developed. Many companies also provide tuition assistance for technicians who take additional work-related courses in colleges or technical schools.
Potential and advancement
There are about 57,000 business machine service technicians, and the field is expanding. Job opportunities will be especially good for those with some training in electronics. Since electronic business machines are becoming more and more popular, in a few years, an electronics background will be essential for all business machine service technicians.
Advancement to positions such as service manager or supervisor is possible for experienced technicians. Some open their own repair business or go into business machine sales.
Income
The median annual salary for business machine service technicians is about $25,300. The middle 50 percent earn between $20,000 and $33,000, and the lowest 10 percent, probably trainees, earn less than $15,900 a year. The top 10 percent earn $40,500 a year.
Additional sources of information
Local offices of firms that sell and service business machines can provide information on job opportunities and training.
