Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 49-9063.00
Repair percussion, stringed, reed, or wind instruments. May specialize in one area, such as piano tuning.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.14
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only37 rated tasks · 1 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (2.7%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 13 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required.O*NET Task ID 11868 | 0.5 |
Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects.O*NET Task ID 11865 | 0.0 |
Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices.O*NET Task ID 11866 | 0.0 |
Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment.O*NET Task ID 11867 | 0.0 |
Repair cracks in wood or metal instruments, using pinning wire, lathes, fillers, clamps, or soldering irons.O*NET Task ID 11869 | 0.0 |
Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary.O*NET Task ID 11870 | 0.0 |
Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments.O*NET Task ID 11871 | 0.0 |
String instruments, and adjust trusses and bridges of instruments to obtain specified string tensions and heights.O*NET Task ID 11872 | 0.0 |
Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools.O*NET Task ID 11873 | 0.0 |
Polish instruments, using rags and polishing compounds, buffing wheels, or burnishing tools.O*NET Task ID 11874 | 0.0 |
Shape old parts and replacement parts to improve tone or intonation, using hand tools, lathes, or soldering irons.O*NET Task ID 11875 | 0.0 |
Make wood replacement parts, using woodworking machines and hand tools.O*NET Task ID 11876 | 0.0 |
Mix and measure glue that will be used for instrument repair.O*NET Task ID 11877 | 0.0 |
Align pads and keys on reed or wind instruments.O*NET Task ID 11878 | 0.0 |
Adjust felt hammers on pianos to increase tonal mellowness or brilliance, using sanding paddles, lacquer, or needles.O*NET Task ID 11879 | 0.0 |
Solder posts and parts to hold them in their proper places.O*NET Task ID 11880 | 0.0 |
Remove dents and burrs from metal instruments, using mallets and burnishing tools.O*NET Task ID 11881 | 0.0 |
Wash metal instruments in lacquer-stripping and cyanide solutions to remove lacquer and tarnish.O*NET Task ID 11882 | 0.0 |
Test tubes and pickups in electronic amplifier units, and solder parts and connections as necessary.O*NET Task ID 11883 | 0.0 |
Refinish instruments to protect and decorate them, using hand tools, buffing tools, and varnish.O*NET Task ID 11884 | 0.0 |
Deliver pianos to purchasers or to locations of their use.O*NET Task ID 11885 | 0.0 |
Cut out sections around cracks on percussion instruments to prevent cracks from advancing, using shears or grinding wheels.O*NET Task ID 11886 | 0.0 |
Refinish and polish piano cabinets or cases to prepare them for sale.O*NET Task ID 11887 | 0.0 |
Solder or weld frames of mallet instruments and metal drum parts.O*NET Task ID 11888 | 0.0 |
Remove drumheads by removing tension rods with drum keys and cutting tools.O*NET Task ID 11889 | 0.0 |
Assemble bars onto percussion instruments.O*NET Task ID 11890 | 0.0 |
Remove irregularities from tuning pins, strings, and hammers of pianos, using wood blocks or filing tools.O*NET Task ID 11891 | 0.0 |
Repair breaks in percussion instruments, such as drums and cymbals, using drill presses, power saws, glue, clamps, grinding wheels, or other hand tools.O*NET Task ID 11893 | 0.0 |
Clean, sand, and paint parts of percussion instruments to maintain their condition.O*NET Task ID 11894 | 0.0 |
Replace xylophone bars and wheels.O*NET Task ID 11895 | 0.0 |
Strike wood, fiberglass, or metal bars of instruments, and use tuned blocks, stroboscopes, or electronic tuners to evaluate tones made by instruments.O*NET Task ID 11896 | 0.0 |
Place rim hoops back onto drum shells to allow new drumheads to dry and become taut.O*NET Task ID 11897 | 0.0 |
Assemble and install new pipe organs and pianos in buildings.O*NET Task ID 11898 | 0.0 |
Cut new drumheads from animal skins, using scissors, and soak drumheads in water to make them pliable.O*NET Task ID 11899 | 0.0 |
Stretch drumheads over rim hoops and tuck them around and under the hoops, using hand tucking tools.O*NET Task ID 11900 | 0.0 |
Remove material from bars of percussion instruments to obtain specified tones, using bandsaws, sanding machines, machine grinders, or hand files and scrapers.O*NET Task ID 11901 | 0.0 |
File metal reeds until their pitches correspond with standard tuning bar pitches.O*NET Task ID 11903 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (24)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects. | Core |
| Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices. | Core |
| Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment. | Core |
| Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required. | Core |
| Repair cracks in wood or metal instruments, using pinning wire, lathes, fillers, clamps, or soldering irons. | Core |
| Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary. | Core |
| Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments. | Core |
| String instruments, and adjust trusses and bridges of instruments to obtain specified string tensions and heights. | Core |
| Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools. | Core |
| Polish instruments, using rags and polishing compounds, buffing wheels, or burnishing tools. | Core |
| Shape old parts and replacement parts to improve tone or intonation, using hand tools, lathes, or soldering irons. | Core |
| Mix and measure glue that will be used for instrument repair. | Core |
| Make wood replacement parts, using woodworking machines and hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Align pads and keys on reed or wind instruments. | Supplemental |
| Adjust felt hammers on pianos to increase tonal mellowness or brilliance, using sanding paddles, lacquer, or needles. | Supplemental |
| Solder posts and parts to hold them in their proper places. | Supplemental |
| Remove dents and burrs from metal instruments, using mallets and burnishing tools. | Supplemental |
| Wash metal instruments in lacquer-stripping and cyanide solutions to remove lacquer and tarnish. | Supplemental |
| Refinish instruments to protect and decorate them, using hand tools, buffing tools, and varnish. | Supplemental |
| Deliver pianos to purchasers or to locations of their use. | Supplemental |
| Refinish and polish piano cabinets or cases to prepare them for sale. | Supplemental |
| Remove irregularities from tuning pins, strings, and hammers of pianos, using wood blocks or filing tools. | Supplemental |
| Strike wood, fiberglass, or metal bars of instruments, and use tuned blocks, stroboscopes, or electronic tuners to evaluate tones made by instruments. | Supplemental |
| Assemble and install new pipe organs and pianos in buildings. | Supplemental |
0.13/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects. | E0 none |
| Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices. | E0 none |
| Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment. | E0 none |
| Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required. | E0 none |
| Repair cracks in wood or metal instruments, using pinning wire, lathes, fillers, clamps, or soldering irons. | E0 none |
| Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary. | E0 none |
| Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments. | E0 none |
| String instruments, and adjust trusses and bridges of instruments to obtain specified string tensions and heights. | E0 none |
| Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools. | E0 none |
| Polish instruments, using rags and polishing compounds, buffing wheels, or burnishing tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Shape old parts and replacement parts to improve tone or intonation, using hand tools, lathes, or soldering irons. | E0 none |
| Make wood replacement parts, using woodworking machines and hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Mix and measure glue that will be used for instrument repair. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Refinish instruments to protect and decorate them, using hand tools, buffing tools, and varnish. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Align pads and keys on reed or wind instruments. | E0 none |
| Adjust felt hammers on pianos to increase tonal mellowness or brilliance, using sanding paddles, lacquer, or needles. | E0 none |
| Solder posts and parts to hold them in their proper places. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove dents and burrs from metal instruments, using mallets and burnishing tools. | E0 none |
| Wash metal instruments in lacquer-stripping and cyanide solutions to remove lacquer and tarnish. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Test tubes and pickups in electronic amplifier units, and solder parts and connections as necessary. | E0 none |
| Deliver pianos to purchasers or to locations of their use. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Solder or weld frames of mallet instruments and metal drum parts. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Remove drumheads by removing tension rods with drum keys and cutting tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Assemble bars onto percussion instruments. | E0 none |
| Remove irregularities from tuning pins, strings, and hammers of pianos, using wood blocks or filing tools. | E0 none |
| Repair breaks in percussion instruments, such as drums and cymbals, using drill presses, power saws, glue, clamps, grinding wheels, or other hand tools. | E0 none |
| Clean, sand, and paint parts of percussion instruments to maintain their condition. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Replace xylophone bars and wheels. | E0 none |
| Strike wood, fiberglass, or metal bars of instruments, and use tuned blocks, stroboscopes, or electronic tuners to evaluate tones made by instruments. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 6K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 6K
- Change (2025–35)
- +1.9%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $46,420
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73031 | 악기 제조 및 수리원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 73032 | 조율사 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7312Musical Instrument Makers and Tuners
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- musical instrument technicianESCO 7312.5Same scope
Musical instrument technicians maintain, tune and repair musical instruments such as pianos, pipe organs, band instruments, violins and other instruments.
- instrument technicianESCO 7312.2This occupation is broader
Instrument technicians assist and support musicians before, during and after the performance to ensure the instruments and the connected equipment, the backline, are setup properly. They maintain, check, tune and repair instruments and assist with quick changes.
- electronic musical instrument makerESCO 8212.3.3Overlapping, not the same
Electronic musical instrument makers create and assemble parts to make electronic instruments according to specified instructions or diagrams. They install and test electric pick-ups, clean and inspect the finished instrument.
- idiophone musical instruments makerESCO 7312.1Overlapping, not the same
Idiophone musical instruments makers create and assemble parts to make idiophone instruments to specified instructions or diagrams. They shape, drill, sand and string the parts that are mostly made out of glass, metal, ceramics or wood, clean, test the quality and inspect the finished instrument.
- keyboard musical instrument makerESCO 7312.3Overlapping, not the same
Keyboard musical instrument makers create and assemble parts to create keyboard instruments according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, tune, test and inspect the finished instrument.
- membranophone musical instruments makerESCO 7312.4Overlapping, not the same
Membranophone musical instruments makers create and assemble parts to make membranophone instruments to specified instructions or diagrams. They stretch and attach the membrane to the frame of the instrument, test the quality and inspect the finished instrument.
- organ builderESCO 7312.3.2Overlapping, not the same
Organ builders create and assemble parts to build organs according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, tune, test and inspect the finished instrument.
- piano makerESCO 7312.3.3Overlapping, not the same
Piano makers create and assemble parts to make pianos according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, tune, test and inspect the finished instrument.
- stringed musical instrument makerESCO 7312.6Overlapping, not the same
Stringed musical instrument makers create and assemble parts to create stringed instruments according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, measure and attach strings, test quality of strings and inspect the finished instrument.
- violin makerESCO 7312.6.3Overlapping, not the same
Violin makers create and assemble parts to create violins according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, measure and attach strings, test quality of strings and inspect the finished instrument.
- wind musical instrument makerESCO 7312.7Overlapping, not the same
Wind musical instrument makers create and assemble parts to make wind instruments according to specified instructions and diagrams. They measure and cut the tubing for the resonator, assemble parts such as braces, slides, valves, piston, bell heads and mouth pieces, test and inspect the finished instrument.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| B1501 | Facteur / Factrice d'instruments à clavier | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| B1502 | Facteur / Factrice d'instruments de musique anciens | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| B1503 | Facteur / Factrice d'instruments à vent | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| B1504 | Facteur / Factrice de percussions | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| B1505 | Luthier / Luthière | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7612 | Lutieres y similares; afinadores de instrumentos musicales | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 93602 | Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93603 | Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (ohne Spezialisierung) - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93613 | Berufe im Streich- und Zupfinstrumentenbau - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93622 | Berufe im Holzblasinstrumentenbau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93623 | Berufe im Holzblasinstrumentenbau - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93633 | Berufe im Metallblasinstrumentenbau - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93643 | Berufe im Klavier- und Cembalobau - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93652 | Berufe im Orgel- und Harmoniumbau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93653 | Berufe im Orgel- und Harmoniumbau - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93682 | Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93683 | Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 93612 | Berufe im Streich- und Zupfinstrumentenbau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 93642 | Berufe im Klavier- und Cembalobau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| 93604 | Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (ohne Spezialisierung) - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 93632 | Berufe im Metallblasinstrumentenbau - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| 93693 | Aufsichtskräfte - Musikinstrumentenbau | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 539 | その他の製品製造・加工処理従事者（金属製品を除く） | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 249 | 他に分類されない専門的職業従事者 | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources