Musical Instrument Maker or Repairer

A musical instrument maker or repairer constructs, modifies, and restores musical instruments using hand tools, woodworking equipment, and specialised materials. Working in a workshop or small studio, they interpret client requirements, diagnose faults in damaged instruments, and apply technical knowledge of acoustics and instrument design to deliver instruments that meet professional performance standards.

Select and prepare timber, metals, and other materials to specification, assessing grain, density, and acoustic properties for instrument construction. Operate hand tools including chisels, planes, rasps, and files to shape instrument bodies, necks, and component parts to precise tolerances. Use woodworking machinery such as bench sanders, table saws, and lathes to cut, shape, and finish instrument components. Assemble instrument parts using traditional joinery techniques, adhesives, and fasteners appropriate to the instrument type. Diagnose faults in damaged or malfunctioning instruments through visual inspection and acoustic testing. Repair or replace damaged components including bridges, strings, tuning mechanisms, valves, and tone wood sections. Adjust and regulate instrument action, intonation, and tone quality through modification of frets, bridges, soundboards, or internal mechanisms. Apply finishing techniques including varnishing, staining, polishing, and French polishing to achieve desired aesthetic and protective outcomes.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate IV or Certificate III with at least two years of on-the-job training (ABS skill level 3). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

Income is unpredictable and often modest. Most work solo or in tiny workshops, meaning you're constantly chasing clients, handling admin, and managing cash flow yourself. A broken hand ends your career instantly. High-end work takes years to build a reputation for, and tourists browsing for cheap ukulele repairs won't fund a living.

In reality, work concentrates in capital cities and university towns where orchestras, music schools, and wealthy amateur musicians cluster. Regional work exists but is sparse and often part-time. Remote work is not an option. Most operate as sole traders from home workshops or rent small studio space.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3995, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Invoicing and Billing Administrationcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Time Managementcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Acoustics
• Adaptability and Flexibility
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Complaint Handling
• Negotiation
• Process Improvement Identification
• Record Management
• Supplier Communication
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026