CAUT

  • 1.  Technician Salary Data Results and Thanks!

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-05-2025 10:15

    Good Morning,

    I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who sent a response to my message about University technician salary data! I think that I got back to everyone, but if I did not, I apologize. I want to share some data and results:

    First of all, my research paid off! We were able to hire a really great technician with a lot of experience, and he is doing a great job so far. While the University did not really raise the salary to the point that I was hoping, the presentation I put together helped them to see the need we had for an experienced technician, and I was able to negotiate a couple of things like moving costs. We now have 3 full-time technicians, and 2 part-time for 350 pianos.

    Because some people asked for the information not to be shared, I am not going to post the sheet with all of the data, but I will say the average from the 30 or so schools that I pooled was $72,000 per year. Keep in mind - I reached out to a lot of institutions in middle-size to major US cities, so the data may be skewed by cost of living.

    If you are interested in a little more information, I would be happy to talk individually about what I heard from all of the technicians I reached out to, and what worked well for me in talking to my administration. I hope that as we keep this conversation going, we can raise awareness with institutions and get earnings caught up to where they really should be.



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    Robert Wilkinson RPT
    Rochester NY
    (706) 945-4496
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  • 2.  RE: Technician Salary Data Results and Thanks!

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-05-2025 10:18

    Secondary question: One of my personal goals is to teach a class at a PTG convention, but I don't feel like I am enough of a master in any technical category to really teach a class yet. Would people be interested in a class about budgeting/talking to administration about finances as a CAUT? I have had good success since I came into this position in that area, and feel like I might have some things to offer that might be helpful, but I am not sure if there is a big enough or interested-enough audience for that topic at a convention.

    Thanks!



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    Robert Wilkinson RPT
    Rochester NY
    (706) 945-4496
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  • 3.  RE: Technician Salary Data Results and Thanks!

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-05-2025 12:39
    A class like that would fit well into the caut class schedule - up to four periods of caut specific classes is something that has been the norm for over 20 years now. Contact the chair of the CAUT committee, Kate Redding.

    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "Believe those who seek the truth; doubt those who find it." Gide