Surgical instrument maker

• Repairing, cleaning and adjusting mechanisms of timing instruments such as watches and clocks
• Adjusting timing regulators, using calipers, watch-rate recorders and tweezers
• Cleaning, rinsing and drying timepiece parts, using solutions and ultrasonic or mechanical watch-cleaning machines
• Testing timepiece accuracy and performance, using meters and other electronic instruments
• Testing accuracy of meters, gauges, indicators or other recording or controlling instruments to locate defective components and for conformance to standards
• Calibrating instruments or scales, using hand tools and computer or electronic devices
• Inspecting components, connections and drive mechanisms to detect defects
• Assembling instruments and devices such as barometers, control valves, gyroscopes, hygrometers, speedometers, tachometers and thermostats
• Testing, calibrating and adjusting electronic, mercurial, aneroid and other types of meteorological instruments for compliance with printed specifications and schematic diagrams, using voltmeters, oscilloscopes, tube testers, and other test instruments
• Adjusting and repairing masts, supporting structures, clearance lights, control panels, control cabling and wiring, and other electrical and mechanical devices
• Repairing and setting optical instruments such as microscopes, telescopes, theodolites and sextants
• Checking whether assembled units conform to specifications and ensuring stipulated performance and sensitivity by standard tests

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,100 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,900 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat

Upper secondary or vocational training in mechanics and metal trades is the usual route.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for precision-instrument makers and repairers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).