Can I Quit My Job & Make the Same Money as a Guitar Tech?
Someone asked this on our Facebook page recently. It’s a fair question—perhaps the most important one if you’re considering a career change.
The honest answer? It depends on your definition of “same money.” Since I can’t see your bank account, I’ll tackle the part I do know: the income potential of a skilled guitar technician.
1. Your Market: You Can’t Catch Fish in a Mud-Hole
Location matters. I worked from my home in Palm Harbor, FL—a mature, affluent suburban market nestled between Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Before I eventually opened a brick-and-mortar shop, I managed my workflow to average $1,000 per week working four to five days. Because I was “retired”—with a paid-off house and car—that was plenty for my wife and me to live comfortably.
However, I’ve also lived in L.A., rural Oklahoma, and small-town Arkansas. Each of those places offers vastly different financial opportunities. Your marketing area will ultimately dictate your income ceiling.
2. Expertise: Speed is Your Salary
Learning in a real shop under pros will prepare you, but knowledge isn’t the same as proficiency. Think of it like playing guitar: knowing the chords doesn’t make you a performer. You need muscle memory and speed.
- The Bench Time Goal: Our apprentices who stay active after our eight-week course usually take another four to ten weeks to find their rhythm.
- The Math: Once you can perform a standard $70 setup in 35–50 minutes, you’re averaging $100/hour bench time.
3. The “Flipping” Factor
If you aren’t working on customer guitars immediately, “flipping” (buying, fixing, and selling) is a fantastic way to sharpen your skills. It’s fun, and it keeps your hands busy.
But flipping has a catch: your income is limited by how fast items sell. Unless you specialize in high-end vintage instruments, flipping rarely matches the hourly profit of straight repair work. Use flipping to build your skills and attract new repair customers, but don’t rely on it as your sole engine.
4. Building the Business: When the Dam Breaks
In the beginning, business will be slow. That’s just the reality.
- Year 1: I struggled. I made about $500 a week and worked six or seven days to get it.
- The Strategy: I used Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and local community boards. My ad budget was $0. Aside from tools and supplies, my only expenses were gas and car depreciation.
- Year 3: The “dam” broke. I was getting five or six jobs a day. Because I was doing complex work—refrets, bridge repairs, intricate wiring—I could only handle four jobs a day before I was underwater.
Eventually, I had to make a choice: get buried in a months-long backlog or retire. I chose retirement… for a year. Then I got bored, leased a retail store, and started training apprentices.
The Success Equation
Winning at this business isn’t just about being a “Better Mousetrap.” You could be the greatest tech on earth and still end up flipping burgers if nobody knows you exist.
Success is an equation of five factors:
- Tech Knowledge: Knowing how to fix it.
- Skill: How fast you can fix it.
- Demographics: Who is in your backyard?
- Marketing: Does your community know you’re there?
- Friendliness: This is the “secret sauce.” You must be comfortable talking to people and wearing a smile.
The Bottom Line
A small retail store can gross $20k monthly, though overhead eats into that quickly. Personally, I could likely clear $100k per year if I worked full-time with one employee.
Today, I have three employees and spend most days working on our Guitar Tech Academy online courses. I don’t work for the maximum possible profit; I work for the enjoyment of the craft and the satisfaction of training the next generation.
If you have the discipline to build your speed and the personality to treat customers right, you won’t just “make the same money”—you’ll make a living doing something you actually love.
Extra Help
All Guitar Tech Academy graduates get assistance from Guitars Done Right – an association of guitar techs helping each other reach success.