Watch and Clock Maker and Repairer

A watch and clock maker and repairer diagnoses, repairs, and maintains mechanical and electronic timekeeping devices in a workshop or retail setting. They disassemble intricate movements, replace worn components, calibrate mechanisms, and reassemble watches and clocks to restore accurate timekeeping. The role requires precision manual work, knowledge of horological mechanics, and often includes restoring antique or heritage timepieces.

Disassemble watch and clock movements using jeweller's tools such as screwdrivers, tweezers, and specialised extractors. Inspect internal components including escapements, balance wheels, mainsprings, and gear trains for wear, damage, or misalignment using magnification equipment and hand-held loupes. Replace worn or damaged parts such as pivots, jewels, springs, and gaskets with correctly sized components sourced from specialist suppliers. Clean movement components and casings using ultrasonic cleaners, solvents, and soft brushes to remove debris and old lubricants. Lubricate bearings and moving parts with appropriate horological oils and greases to restore smooth operation without causing drag. Calibrate balance wheel oscillation, adjust escapement geometry, and regulate timekeeping rate using timing machines or visual observation methods. Perform pressure testing on water-resistant watch casings to ensure seals meet manufacturer specifications or Australian consumer product safety standards. Restore and service antique or heritage timepieces by sourcing period-correct components and consulting historical records or maker documentation.

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.

The real challenge is that smartphones killed the mainstream watch repair market. Most people bin broken watches and buy new ones. You'll survive on high-end mechanical watches, vintage restoration, and jewellery store work, but income is modest and inconsistent. The craft is deeply rewarding but financially precarious.

Regional work exists but is sparse. Most employment is independent workshop ownership or part-time jewellery store roles rather than full-time positions. Remote work doesn't apply to this hands-on trade.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 3233, 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
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Change watch batterycore
• Continuous Learning and Upskillingcore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Inventory Trackingcore
• Invoicing and Billing Administrationcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Complaint Handling
• Digital Literacy
• Process Improvement Identification
• Record Management
• Research and Analysis
• 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