Best institutions to study Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to make, repair, maintain, and tune acoustic and electric musical instruments.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 201 Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 47.0404, a specialization of Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.04), and leads most directly to the Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners occupation (BLS SOC 49-9063).
About Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to make, repair, maintain, and tune acoustic and electric musical instruments. Includes instruction in methods and equipment for making musical instruments, electronic instrument amplification systems, techniques of cleaning, and methods of tuning musical instruments.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair program prepares students to apply technical knowledge and skills in the making, repairing, maintaining, and tuning of both acoustic and electric musical instruments. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about music and interested in the technical aspects of instrument craftsmanship and maintenance.
Students will gain essential skills in critical thinking, active listening, and mechanical knowledge. Coursework includes instruction on tuning techniques, instrument repair methods, and the use of various tools and equipment for instrument fabrication and maintenance.
Credentials awarded
What Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years97 graduates / yr · 4 institutions48%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year78 graduates / yr · 4 institutions39%
- Associate's degree16 graduates / yr · 4 institutions8.0%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years10 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.0%
Graduates over time
Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 231 |
| 2013 | 206 |
| 2014 | 264 |
| 2015 | 274 |
| 2016 | 228 |
| 2017 | 219 |
| 2018 | 229 |
| 2019 | 204 |
| 2020 | 99 |
| 2021 | 200 |
| 2022 | 194 |
| 2023 | 171 |
| 2024 | 190 |
| 2025 | 201 |
Top 8 institutions for Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota State College Southeast Winona, MNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 63 | 47% | — | $28,137 |
| 2 | Roberto - Venn School of Luthiery Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 49 | 100% | $25,894 | — |
| 3 | Musicians Institute Hollywood, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 41 | 53% | $37,963 | — |
| 4 | North Bennet Street School Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 25 | 90% | $35,199 | $23,140 |
| 5 | Renton Technical College Renton, WAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 15 | 46% | — | — |
| 6 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IAPublicAssociate's | 5 | 50% | — | — |
| 7 | De Anza College Cupertino, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 68% | — | — |
| 8 | Palomar College San Marcos, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 38% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 47.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 6 states
Where Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair graduates come from. Each state links to all Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1 | 63 | Minnesota State College Southeast63 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 49 | Roberto - Venn School of Luthiery49 / yr |
| California | 3 | 44 | Musicians Institute41 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 25 | North Bennet Street School25 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 15 | Renton Technical College15 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 5 | Western Iowa Tech Community College5 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 49-9063, Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program typically pursue careers as Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners. The job outlook indicates little or no change in employment opportunities, with an annual opening of about 600 positions and a median wage of $45,320. A high school diploma or equivalent is generally the typical education required for this field.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 47.0404
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Musical Instrument Repairers and Tunersprimary SOC 49-9063 | $46,420 | +1.4% Little or no change | ~600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices.
- Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments.
- Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects.
- Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment.
- Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools.
- Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary.
Tools and technology used
Other Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.04).
- Gunsmithing/CIP 47.0402
Gunsmith 3,371 graduates / yr17 institutions - Watchmaking and JewelrymakingCIP 47.0408partial data78 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Locksmithing and Safe RepairCIP 47.0403limited data43 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Parts and Warehousing Operations and Maintenance Technology/CIP 47.0409
Technician limited data29 graduates / yr1 institutions - Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/CIP 47.0499
Technicians limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians programs →
Common questions
What types of instruments will I learn to repair?+
You will learn to repair both acoustic and electric musical instruments.
What kind of credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn awards ranging from at least 12 weeks to less than 2 academic years, or an Associate's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and mechanical knowledge, among others.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 600 annual openings in the field.
What is the CIP code for Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair?+
Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair is CIP 47.0404 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to make, repair, maintain, and tune acoustic and electric musical instruments. Includes instruction in methods and equipment for making musical instruments, electronic instrument amplification systems, techniques of cleaning, and methods of tuning musical instruments.
How many institutions offer Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 6 states, awarding 201 credentials in the year. That is 5.4% of all Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners occupation, which Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair most directly leads to, pays a median of $46,420 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $28,137 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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