Precision Instrument Makers and Repairers

ANZSCO ID 323314

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
1,900
Future Growth
N/A
Weekly Earnings
N/A
Full-Time Share
88%
Female Share
5%
Average age
45

Summary

Precision Instrument Makers and Repairers assemble, calibrate, install and overhaul mechanical precision instruments and equipment.

Specialisations: Camera Repairer, Scalemaker, Scientific Instrument Maker and Repairer.

A certificate III in electrical or electronic trade engineering is usually needed to work as a Precision Instrument Maker and Repairer.

Tasks

  • Assembles parts and sub-assemblies of precision instruments and locks, timepieces and firearms.

  • Dismantles precision instruments, locks, timepieces and firearms, repairs and replaces defective parts, and reassembles articles using hand and power tools and specially designed machines.

  • Calibrates precision instruments using standard weights and measures, jigs and fixtures, and hand tools to adjust and align parts and small balancing weights.

  • May estimate costs and prepare quotes for repairs.

Characteristics

Job Type
Technicians And Trades Workers
Skill Level
Medium skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
n/a
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Practical
  • Analytical
  • Administrative
Physical Demand
  • Light
  • Medium

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. Employment projections data are only produced for occupations at the broad four digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level. While data are not available for this occupation, projections data are available for the parent occupation, Precision Metal Trades Workers, under the outlook section.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 88% of people employed as Precision Instrument Makers and Repairers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 22 percentage points above the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 43 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Sources:Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average.


Industries

Main industries

1
Other Services
18.9%
2
Wholesale Trade
14.8%
3
Manufacturing
11.4%
4
Health Care and Social Assistance
11.2%
5
Other industries
35.5%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

32.3% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

28.4% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

18.0% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

5.6% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

12.6% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.6% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

1.2% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

0.4% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Precision Instrument Makers and Repairers All Jobs Average
NSW 32.3 31.6
VIC 28.4 25.6
QLD 18.0 20.0
SA 5.6 7.0
WA 12.6 10.8
TAS 1.6 2.0
NT 1.2 1.0
ACT 0.4 1.9



Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
45
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
5%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Precision Instrument Makers and Repairers is 45 years. This is higher than the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 45 to 54 years.

    Females make up 5% of the workforce. This is 43 percentage points below the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Precision Instrument Makers and Repairers All Jobs Average
15-19 0.6 5.0
20-24 3.7 9.3
25-34 20.0 22.9
35-44 24.7 22.0
45-54 25.6 21.6
55-59 12.7 9.0
60-64 7.3 6.0
65 and Over 5.3 4.2
Median Age 45 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

A certificate III in electrical or electronic trade engineering is usually needed to work as a Precision Instrument Maker and Repairer.

Visit

  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Manufacturing and Metal and Engineering VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Precision Instrument Makers and Repairers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 5.1 10.1
Bachelor degree 14.2 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 15.9 11.6
Certificate III/IV 46.7 21.1
Year 12 10.0 18.1
Year 11 2.9 4.8
Year 10 and below 5.2 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Precision Metal Trades Workers who are reliable, work well in a team and have a strong work ethic.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 55%

    Repairing

    Fixing machines or systems.

  • 52%

    Troubleshooting

    Figuring out why a machine or system went wrong and working out what to do about it.

  • 52%

    Equipment maintenance

    Maintaining equipment and deciding what maintenance will be needed in the future.

  • 50%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 48%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 48%

    Quality control analysis

    Doing tests and checking products, services, or processes to make sure they are working properly.

  • 45%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 45%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 45%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 45%

    Equipment selection

    Deciding on the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • 43%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 43%

    Operation monitoring

    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 43%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 43%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 43%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 41%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 36%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 36%

    Mathematics

    Using maths to solve problems.

  • 32%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 32%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 66%

    Mechanical

    Machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • 61%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 59%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 52%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 49%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 46%

    Engineering and technology

    Use engineering, science and technology to design and produce goods and services.

  • 44%

    Sales and marketing

    Showing, promoting, and selling including marketing strategy, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

  • 42%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 41%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 37%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 37%

    Production and processing

    Raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and ways of making and distributing goods.

  • 34%

    Technical design

    Design techniques, tools, and principles used to make detailed technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • 34%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 28%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 25%

    Economics and accounting

    Economics and accounting, the financial markets, banking and checking and reporting of financial data.

  • 24%

    Chemistry

    Chemical composition, structure, and properties. How chemicals are made, used, mixed, and can change.

  • 22%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 22%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 21%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

  • 20%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 57%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 55%

    Finger dexterity

    Put together small parts with your fingers.

  • 54%

    Visualization

    Imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed.

  • 54%

    Arm-hand steadiness

    Keep your hand or arm steady.

  • 50%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 48%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 48%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 48%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 48%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 46%

    Manual dexterity

    Quickly move your hand to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

  • 46%

    Colour discrimination

    Notice differences between colours, including shades of colour and brightness.

  • 46%

    Control precision

    Quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.

  • 46%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 46%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 46%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 43%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 43%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 41%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

  • 41%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 39%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 66%

    Working with electronic equipment

    Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing electronic devices and equipment.

  • 59%

    Keeping your knowledge up-to-date

    Keeping up-to-date with technology and new ideas.

  • 59%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 49%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 49%

    Working with mechanical equipment

    Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment.

  • 48%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 47%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 45%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 45%

    Handling and moving objects

    Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, moving and manipulating objects.

  • 45%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 43%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 43%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 42%

    Checking for errors or defects

    Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials for errors, problems or defects.

  • 42%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 37%

    Estimating amounts, costs and resources

    Working out sizes, distances, amounts, time, costs, resources, or materials needed for a task.

  • 37%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 36%

    Making sense of information and ideas

    Looking at, working with, and understanding data or information.

  • 36%

    Working with the public

    Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.

  • 32%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 32%

    Communicating with the public

    Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

  • 67%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 67%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 29%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 24%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 14%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 62%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 57%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 52%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 48%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 43%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 38%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 95%

    Using your hands to handle, control, or feel

    Spend time using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls.

  • 93%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 92%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 88%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 88%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 88%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 83%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 77%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 74%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 73%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 69%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 67%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 67%

    Making repetitive motions

    Spend time making repetitive motions.

  • 65%

    Consequence of error

    Work where mistakes have serious consequences.

  • 63%

    Exposure to contaminants

    Be exposed to pollutants, gases, dust or odours.

  • 63%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 61%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 59%

    Repeating same tasks

    Repeat the same tasks or activities (e.g., key entry) over and over, without stopping.

  • 58%

    Letters and memos

    Write letters and memos.

  • 54%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 49-9061.00 - Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers.


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