Luthier Jobs: Instrument Repair Work, Training and Pay

Luthier jobs are jobs building, repairing and setting up stringed instruments, such as guitars, violins, cellos and mandolins. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) counts most of this work under musical instrument repairers and tuners, an occupation with 6,000 jobs in 2025. O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor’s occupation database, lists “luthier” as one of its job titles.

This guide covers what luthiers do, where they work, how people train for the work, what it pays, the job outlook, and how to find luthier jobs. Figures were checked in October 2026.

What Luthiers Do

Much of the paid work in this field is repair and maintenance, along with building instruments in workshops and factories. O*NET lists these tasks for musical instrument repairers, many of which apply directly to stringed instruments:

Playing instruments to judge sound quality and find defects.
Inspecting instruments to decide how much repair or restoration is needed.
Taking instruments apart, repairing them and putting them back together.
Repairing or replacing strings, bridges and other parts.
Repairing cracks in wood and making replacement wooden parts.
Adjusting neck angles on fretted instruments.
Shaping parts to improve tone or intonation.
Tuning instruments by adjusting string tension.
Polishing and refinishing instruments.

O*NET lists woodworking machines, lathes, files, clamps, hide glue, lacquer, varnish and electronic tuning devices among the tools of the trade. The occupation also covers repairers of band instruments, pianos and percussion, so not every job in it is lutherie.

Job Titles to Search For

O*NET lists these titles, among others: Luthier, Guitar Repairer, Fretted String Instrument Repairer, Stringed Instrument Repairer, Musical Instrument Repair Technician and Instrument Repair Technician.

Building Instruments

Building instruments from scratch is a smaller part of the paid job market. The BLS notes that many musical instruments are mass produced, so factory work for guitar and instrument makers is another route into the field, alongside custom building in small shops.

Where Luthiers Work

The BLS lists these industries with the most employed musical instrument repairers and tuners in May 2025:

Sporting goods, hobby and musical instrument retailers, such as music stores: 3,500
Personal and household goods repair and maintenance, such as repair shops: 890
Other miscellaneous manufacturing, which includes instrument makers: 450
Colleges and universities: 190
Other schools and instruction: 80

About two-thirds of employed repairers work for music retailers, where they handle repairs and setups for customers. The states with the most were Texas (580), California (520), Tennessee (300), New York (270) and Pennsylvania (240).

The BLS counts 6,000 jobs in the occupation in total, compared with 5,380 employees in its wage survey, which suggests some repairers are self-employed.

Training and Education

The BLS lists apprenticeship as the typical on-the-job training for musical instrument repairers and tuners, with a high school diploma as the typical entry-level education. In practice, many people also attend a lutherie or instrument repair school. In O*NET’s survey, 55% of respondents said new hires need a postsecondary certificate.

Schools and Programs

Programs range from short courses to two-year college programs. Some known examples:

Minnesota State College Southeast, Red Wing, Minnesota. Offers guitar repair and building, band instrument repair and violin repair programs. String instrument repair courses began there in 1974. In February 2023, the college reported nearly 80 students across these programs.
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, Phoenix, Arizona. A guitar building and repair program of 880 clock hours.
Short courses. Private schools and individual luthiers offer courses lasting from about a week to a few months, often focused on building one instrument or on repair skills.

A Premier Guitar article on lutherie schools notes that accredited programs can make financial aid easier to get, while non-accredited programs usually require self-funding. It also points to the Guild of American Luthiers for a fuller list of schools.

Apprenticeships

Learning under an experienced repairer is the traditional route and the typical training the BLS lists. Music stores and repair shops are the main places to look for this kind of position.

Skills Employers Look For

Precision. In O*NET’s survey, 90% of repairers said being exact or accurate is extremely important.
A good ear. Judging sound quality, tone and intonation.
Woodworking skills. Repairing cracks, fitting parts and making replacements.
Finishing skills. Touching up and refinishing lacquer and varnish.
Customer service. In O*NET’s survey, 80% said they have phone conversations every day and 70% have face-to-face discussions every day.
Playing ability. Repairers play instruments to check their work.

Pay

The median annual wage for musical instrument repairers and tuners was $46,420 in May 2025, or $22.32 an hour, according to the BLS. The median is the wage at which half the workers earned more and half earned less.

The BLS gives this spread of annual wages for May 2025:

Lowest 10%: less than $31,220
25th percentile: $37,670
Median: $46,420
75th percentile: $58,430
Highest 10%: more than $71,600

Job Outlook

The BLS projects that employment of musical instrument repairers and tuners will grow by 2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3% average for all occupations. That is about 100 new jobs. O*NET projects about 600 openings a year, most from the need to replace workers who retire or leave the occupation.

With about 600 openings a year nationwide, this is a small field, so it helps to be flexible about location.

How to Find Luthier Jobs

Check music stores. They employ most instrument repairers. Ask about repair technician or setup positions.
Contact repair shops and luthiers. Independent shops are where many people find apprenticeships.
Apply to instrument makers. Guitar and instrument factories hire for building, finishing and setup work. Instructors at Minnesota State College Southeast say makers including Bourgeois, Collings and Benedetto have hired their graduates.
Ask schools about employer links. If you are choosing a program, ask where its graduates have found work.
Build a portfolio. Photos of instruments you have built, repaired or set up, with notes on the work done.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do luthiers make?

The BLS does not publish a separate figure for luthiers. Musical instrument repairers and tuners, which include luthiers, earned a median of $46,420 a year in May 2025.

Do you need to go to school to become a luthier?

Not necessarily. The BLS lists apprenticeship as the typical training. Many people also take a lutherie or repair program, and 55% of O*NET survey respondents said new hires need a postsecondary certificate.

Can I work as a luthier from home?

Luthier jobs with an employer are done in a shop or factory. Building or repairing instruments from a home workshop for your own customers is a business. Our guide on how to start a woodworking business covers that route.

Luthier Jobs: Working in Instrument Making and Repair