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Business Machine Repair

What Business Machine Repair Majors Need to Know

Programs in Business Machine Repair emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Business Machine Repair graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Business Machine Repair emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Computers and Electronics — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Mechanical — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 2.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Business Machine Repair program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Repairing — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Troubleshooting — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Business Machine Repair careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Speech Recognition — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 2.6 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Business Machine Repair graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment	4.6 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.4 / 7
Communicating with People Outside the Organization	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.1 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4 / 7
Getting Information	3.9 / 7
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment	3.9 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.8 / 7
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment	3.4 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Business Machine Repair professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Personal computer diagnostic software	Program testing software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Hyperterminal	Platform interconnectivity software	—
Operating system software	Operating system software	—
Extensible markup language XML	Enterprise application integration software	—
JavaScript	Web platform development software	—
Symantec Norton Utilities	Filesystem software	—
Microsoft Internet Explorer	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP	Web platform development software	—
UNIX	Operating system software	—
Terminal emulation software	Network connectivity terminal emulation software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Business Machine Repair graduates include:

• Dictaphone Mechanic
• Office Machine Mechanic
• Dictating Transcribing Machine Servicer
• Data Processing Equipment Repairer
• Repair Agent
• Photocopying Equipment Repairer
• Typewriter Repairer
• Accounting Machine Mechanic
• Computer Service Technician
• Computer Mechanic
• Machine Repairman
• Cash Register Mechanic
• Typewriter Mechanic
• Dictating Machine Mechanic
• Assembly Technician

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Business Machine Repair graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	33.0%
Postsecondary certificate	31.0%
High school diploma or equivalent	28.1%
Some college courses	7.5%
Bachelor’s degree	0.4%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

How Much Do Business Machine Repair Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Business Machine Repair graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$36,246
4 years	$37,373
5 years	$41,963

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $41,963 — roughly 16% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Business Machine Repair Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Business Machine Repair graduates earn a median of $37,373 four years after completion — about 2% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	47.01
Appliance Installation and Repair Technology/Technician	47.0106
Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician	47.0103
Computer Installation and Repair Technology/Technician	47.0104
Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair Technology/Technician, General	47.0101
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other	47.0199
Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician	47.0105
Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician	47.0110

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.