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 high

    Group-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

    Source dataset (XLSX download)

  • Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03

    0.000

    0.000Range of values carried here0.745
    Scale, 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

    Source dataset (CSV download)

  • Data source: ILOPublished: 2025

    0.14

    0.09Range of values carried here0.70

    Group-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

    Source dataset (PDF download)

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 only

37 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
Task (O*NET 20.1)Claude.aiRaw / share %
Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments.

49-9063.00

0.0033100.0
Not observed on any surface — 38 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states.
Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects.
—0
Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices.
—0
Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment.
—0
Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required.
—0
Repair cracks in wood or metal instruments, using pinning wire, lathes, fillers, clamps, or soldering irons.
—0
Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary.
—0
String instruments, and adjust trusses and bridges of instruments to obtain specified string tensions and heights.
—0
Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools.
—0
Polish instruments, using rags and polishing compounds, buffing wheels, or burnishing tools.
—0
Shape old parts and replacement parts to improve tone or intonation, using hand tools, lathes, or soldering irons.
—0
Make wood replacement parts, using woodworking machines and hand tools.
—0
Mix and measure glue that will be used for instrument repair.
—0
Align pads and keys on reed or wind instruments.
—0
Adjust felt hammers on pianos to increase tonal mellowness or brilliance, using sanding paddles, lacquer, or needles.
—0
Solder posts and parts to hold them in their proper places.
—0
Remove dents and burrs from metal instruments, using mallets and burnishing tools.
—0
Wash metal instruments in lacquer-stripping and cyanide solutions to remove lacquer and tarnish.
—0
Test tubes and pickups in electronic amplifier units, and solder parts and connections as necessary.
—0
Refinish instruments to protect and decorate them, using hand tools, buffing tools, and varnish.
—0
Deliver pianos to purchasers or to locations of their use.
—0
Cut out sections around cracks on percussion instruments to prevent cracks from advancing, using shears or grinding wheels.
—0
Refinish and polish piano cabinets or cases to prepare them for sale.
—0
Solder or weld frames of mallet instruments and metal drum parts.
—0
Remove drumheads by removing tension rods with drum keys and cutting tools.
—0
Assemble bars onto percussion instruments.
—0
Remove irregularities from tuning pins, strings, and hammers of pianos, using wood blocks or filing tools.
—0
Travel to locations such as churches and concert halls to work on pipe organs.
—0
Repair breaks in percussion instruments such as drums and cymbals, using drill presses, power saws, glue, clamps, grinding wheels, or other hand tools.
—0
Clean, sand, and paint parts of percussion instruments to maintain their condition.
—0
Replace xylophone bars and wheels.
—0
Strike wood, fiberglass, or metal bars of instruments, and use tuned blocks, stroboscopes, or electronic tuners to evaluate tones made by instruments.
—0
Place rim hoops back onto drum shells to allow new drumheads to dry and become taut.
—0
Assemble and install new pipe organs and pianos in buildings.
—0
Cut new drumheads from animal skins, using scissors, and soak drumheads in water to make them pliable.
—0
Stretch drumheads over rim hoops and tuck them around and under the hoops, using hand tucking tools.
—0
Remove material from bars of percussion instruments to obtain specified tones, using bandsaws, sanding machines, machine grinders, or hand files and scrapers.
—0
Adjust lips, reeds, or toe holes of organ pipes to regulate airflow and loudness of sound, using hand tools.
—0
File metal reeds until their pitches correspond with standard tuning bar pitches.
—0

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, 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

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
lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

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 codeKSCO titleRelationStatus
73031악기 제조 및 수리원This occupation is broaderconfirmed
73032조율사This occupation is broaderconfirmed

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)

View original

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 codeROME title (French)Relation
B1501Facteur / Factrice d'instruments à clavierThis occupation is broaderprovisional
B1502Facteur / Factrice d'instruments de musique anciensThis occupation is broaderprovisional
B1503Facteur / Factrice d'instruments à ventThis occupation is broaderprovisional
B1504Facteur / Factrice de percussionsThis occupation is broaderprovisional
B1505Luthier / LuthièreThis 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 codeCNO-11 title (Spanish)Relation
7612Lutieres y similares; afinadores de instrumentos musicalesThis 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 codeKldB title (German)Relation
93602Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (ohne Spezialisierung) - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93603Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (ohne Spezialisierung) - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93613Berufe im Streich- und Zupfinstrumentenbau - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93622Berufe im Holzblasinstrumentenbau - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93623Berufe im Holzblasinstrumentenbau - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93633Berufe im Metallblasinstrumentenbau - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93643Berufe im Klavier- und Cembalobau - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93652Berufe im Orgel- und Harmoniumbau - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93653Berufe im Orgel- und Harmoniumbau - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93682Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93683Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - komplexe SpezialistentätigkeitenThis occupation is broaderprovisional
93612Berufe im Streich- und Zupfinstrumentenbau - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenOverlapping, not the sameprovisional
93642Berufe im Klavier- und Cembalobau - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenOverlapping, not the sameprovisional
93604Berufe im Musikinstrumentenbau (ohne Spezialisierung) - hoch komplexe TätigkeitenRelated, not a matchprovisional
93632Berufe im Metallblasinstrumentenbau - fachlich ausgerichtete TätigkeitenRelated, not a matchprovisional
93693Aufsichtskräfte - MusikinstrumentenbauRelated, 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 codeJSCO 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