What You Need to Know About Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians

Occupation Description Diagnose, inspect, adjust, repair, or overhaul recreational vehicles including travel trailers. May specialize in maintaining gas, electrical, hydraulic, plumbing, or chassis/towing systems as well as repairing generators, appliances, and interior components. Includes workers who perform customized van conversions.

List of Recreational Vehicle Service Technician Job Duties

• Refinish wood surfaces on cabinets, doors, moldings, or floors, using power sanders, putty, spray equipment, brushes, paints, or varnishes.
• Seal open sides of modular units to prepare them for shipment, using polyethylene sheets, nails, and hammers.
• Repair leaks with caulking compound or replace pipes, using pipe wrenches.
• Examine or test operation of parts or systems to ensure completeness of repairs.
• Remove damaged exterior panels and repair and replace structural frame members.
• Inspect, repair, or replace brake systems.

Recreational Vehicle Service Technician Required Skills

Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

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

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians

• Hitch Technician
• Master Certified RV Technician (Master Certified Recreational Vehicle Technician)
• RV Technician (Recreational Vehicle Technician)
• Vehicle Technician
• Custom Van Converter

Recreational Vehicle Service Technician Employment Estimates

There were about 13,800 jobs for Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians in 2016 (in the United States).

Recreational Vehicle Service Technician jobs are decreasing by a rate of -1.1%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -200 jobs for Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,700 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians are Texas, Florida, and Indiana.

Watch out if you plan on working in Missouri, Wyoming, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians

Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians Make between $25,670 and $58,750 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $38,160.

How much do Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians make in each U.S. state?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
New Jersey	$50,220
Tennessee	$46,680
Colorado	$45,420
Washington	$44,740
Arizona	$44,730
California	$43,700
Arkansas	$43,610
Nevada	$43,440
North Dakota	$43,100
Florida	$42,860
Georgia	$42,730
Indiana	$41,880
North Carolina	$41,760
Oregon	$41,420
New Mexico	$41,020
Connecticut	$40,530
Pennsylvania	$39,700
New Hampshire	$39,700
Texas	$39,220
Massachusetts	$38,820
Maine	$38,530
Iowa	$38,440
South Carolina	$38,260
Oklahoma	$38,240
Minnesota	$38,240
Missouri	$37,400
Nebraska	$37,370
Idaho	$37,340
New York	$37,220
Maryland	$37,040
Ohio	$36,550
Wisconsin	$36,550
Montana	$36,510
Alabama	$36,010
Illinois	$35,990
Utah	$35,560
Virginia	$35,170
Michigan	$35,160
Kentucky	$34,960
Kansas	$34,320
Louisiana	$33,320
Wyoming	$31,990
South Dakota	$29,580
West Virginia	$28,150

What Tools & Technology do Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word

Becoming a Recreational Vehicle Service Technician

What education is needed to be a Recreational Vehicle Service Technician?

What work experience do I need to become a Recreational Vehicle Service Technician?

Where Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians Work

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those who work as Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

• Maintenance Workers, Machinery
• Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons