Appliance Repair Apprentice / Technician

About Us

We've been fixing appliances since 1988, out of Doug and Anne Carlson's garage in Omaha, and we're now one of the Midwest's most trusted service companies. Our leadership—including the CEO, VP, trainers, and every service manager—started as apprentices and have done the job themselves. You'll never hear "that's not how it works" from someone who's never held a multimeter. We're a trusted partner for manufacturers, hold a 4.9-star average across thousands of reviews, and have earned awards like Sub-Zero Best-in-Class Service Provider (2025), Bosch Service Provider of the Year (2025), and UASA Most Professional Servicer (twice).

We'll train you from scratch, but we're selective—most applicants won't be a fit, and we'd rather find that out early than six months in.

What to Expect

If you've worked in the trades before, you've likely encountered overpromising employers: rushed schedules, bosses who've never turned a wrench, pressure to oversell, or customers who take out their frustrations on you. We don’t do that here. Instead, we’ll lay out exactly what the job asks and what it pays—no sales pitch, just transparency.

Culture

With customers, we’re the real deal: clean trucks, straight answers, honest repairs, no games. That’s not an act—it’s who we are, and it’s non-negotiable. With each other, we’re not corporate. We joke around, give each other a hard time, and have fun. If you prefer a buttoned-up, memo-driven office, we’ll probably rub you the wrong way. But if you can be professional with customers while staying loose and human with the crew, you’ll fit right in.

The Work

This is a skilled trade, not a fast track. You start as an apprentice and progress every year: apprentice → certified tech → master tech (sealed-system/refrigeration work) → lead tech, with some lateral moves. There’s no fast track to leadership—advancement comes from mastering the craft, not climbing away from it. Some of our highest earners are techs who’ve mastered the hardest skills.

The work is never "finished." New models and problems constantly emerge, and even veterans get stumped. For the right person, that’s the appeal—every call is a fresh puzzle. For the wrong person, it’s frustrating. If you need repetition or a sense of completion, this trade will feel like climbing a sand dune.

Hours

This is in-home service, so your day ends when the work does—not when a whistle blows. Most days finish around the expected time, but some run late if a job fights you. You won’t always know in the morning when you’ll be done. If you can roll with that, you’ll do fine. If your life requires clocking out at the same minute daily, this role will wear on you. When days run long, you’re paid for every hour, and overtime (past 40 hours/week) is time-and-a-half. What doesn’t work: walking out on a customer mid-repair because the clock hit 5:00.

Customer Interactions

You’ll need to sell, but not in the way you think. No scripts or pitches—just standing in someone’s kitchen, earning their trust, and recommending the right fix. Some customers will watch your every move; others may be unreasonable or take a rough day out on you. You stay professional because you take the work seriously. If that sounds exhausting, you’ll struggle here. If it sounds like being straight with people, you’ll excel.

Challenges

The hardest part isn’t the wrenching—it’s everything around it. Parts lookups, serial breaks, digging up manuals, and learning software will challenge you early on. It’s physical, too: moving built-in units, wrestling stacked appliances, and working in tight spaces. We provide the right equipment, but your body will feel it.

Pay

You start at $20/hour during training (typically 90 days). After that, you earn commission and bonuses on top of hourly pay, tied to your productivity and skill. Certifications (e.g., sealed systems/refrigeration) double your commission rate. Team leads earn a stipend. Pay fluctuates weekly based on work mix, but we help smooth that out early on.

First-year techs typically earn $60,000–$70,000. Top earners clear six figures after a few years. The ceiling is set by how good and fast you get—not by us. If money is your primary motivation, you’ll feel stuck during the learning phase. The highest earners came for the craft and let the pay follow.

Benefits

• Company truck with gas covered (no wear on your car or out-of-pocket expenses).
• Paid apprenticeship: online classes, hands-on practice, and ride-alongs with experienced techs.
• Specialty tools, training, and backup for tough jobs (you bring basic hand tools; we cover the rest).
• Manageable routes (~8 calls/day, not the 12+ other shops push).
• Full benefits: health, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) with match, PTO, professional development, employee discounts, and referral bonuses.
• Signing bonus for experienced techs (higher for sealed-system expertise, paid after 90 days).

Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and a driving record we can insure.
• Able to lift 30 lbs and move appliances with proper equipment.
• Professional attitude with customers and ability to communicate clearly.

Final candidates complete a background check and drug screen (context matters—you’ll be driving our truck and working in homes).

Who We’re Looking For

We screen for two things we can’t teach: aptitude and attitude. Ninety percent of our hires had no prior appliance repair experience. After applying, you’ll take a short aptitude assessment (not a book-smarts test—it’s about problem-solving). Need an accommodation? Just ask.

If you want a corporate, clock-watching job, this isn’t the place. But if you want to master a skilled trade with a team that trains you right, backs you up, has fun, and pays you more as you improve, apply. Watch for our aptitude assessment within a couple of days.