Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,670 | $16.67 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,880 | $23.02 |
| Mean (average) | $49,990 | $24.04 |
| 90th percentile | $67,260 | $32.34 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,110 | $30,930 | $57,530 | 400 | 0.81 |
| Alaska | $60,190 | $43,370 | $70,850 | 50 | 0.67 |
| Arizona | $46,580 | $30,600 | $62,120 | 1,050 | 1.39 |
| Arkansas | $37,610 | $28,150 | $58,200 | 390 | 1.29 |
| California | $50,790 | $36,950 | $76,030 | 2,470 | 0.59 |
| Colorado | $52,620 | $39,990 | $76,400 | 690 | 1.03 |
| Connecticut | $56,680 | $46,230 | $78,710 | 560 | 1.41 |
| Delaware | $54,230 | $40,560 | $73,020 | 80 | 0.74 |
| Florida | $47,840 | $35,640 | $65,220 | 3,450 | 1.5 |
| Georgia | $47,360 | $33,060 | $62,800 | 1,620 | 1.42 |
| Hawaii | $58,110 | $39,430 | $75,710 | 210 | 1.45 |
| Idaho | $55,320 | $39,330 | $81,640 | 190 | 0.94 |
| Illinois | $46,190 | $34,690 | $68,410 | 780 | 0.55 |
| Indiana | $47,260 | $34,110 | $60,590 | 1,150 | 1.55 |
| Iowa | $45,830 | $30,100 | $70,490 | 430 | 1.18 |
| Kansas | $46,540 | $34,080 | $58,370 | 170 | 0.5 |
| Kentucky | $43,110 | $31,350 | $63,450 | 500 | 1.09 |
| Louisiana | $43,200 | $31,970 | $66,040 | 260 | 0.57 |
| Maine | $47,960 | $37,620 | $72,330 | 300 | 2.02 |
| Maryland | $45,630 | $38,130 | $66,850 | 440 | 0.69 |
| Massachusetts | $57,830 | $47,020 | $78,720 | 800 | 0.95 |
| Michigan | $46,730 | $34,110 | $61,090 | 1,860 | 1.82 |
| Minnesota | $55,990 | $38,370 | $73,300 | 630 | 0.92 |
| Mississippi | $37,900 | $30,470 | $52,260 | 150 | 0.56 |
| Missouri | $55,120 | $34,870 | $62,670 | 690 | 1.02 |
| Montana | $47,880 | $35,360 | $63,020 | 190 | 1.56 |
| Nebraska | $49,710 | $36,240 | $66,100 | 300 | 1.26 |
| Nevada | $56,750 | $35,320 | $93,670 | 170 | 0.48 |
| New Hampshire | $57,610 | $44,810 | $77,770 | 210 | 1.34 |
| New Jersey | $52,000 | $44,600 | $72,310 | 660 | 0.66 |
| New Mexico | $42,520 | $26,020 | $55,800 | 110 | 0.56 |
| New York | $50,640 | $36,020 | $67,650 | 1,480 | 0.66 |
| North Carolina | $47,370 | $32,260 | $63,720 | 1,950 | 1.7 |
| North Dakota | $50,540 | $41,630 | $60,900 | 190 | 1.86 |
| Ohio | $46,110 | $29,780 | $60,850 | 1,480 | 1.15 |
| Oklahoma | $42,630 | $30,230 | $62,340 | 380 | 0.97 |
| Oregon | $50,020 | $39,900 | $74,140 | 280 | 0.62 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,270 | $33,990 | $71,720 | 1,590 | 1.13 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,730 | $21,840 | $36,600 | 110 | 0.51 |
| Rhode Island | $52,160 | $40,740 | $82,040 | 100 | 0.85 |
| South Carolina | $47,510 | $31,770 | $70,050 | 660 | 1.24 |
| South Dakota | $41,580 | $34,770 | $57,660 | 160 | 1.51 |
| Tennessee | $46,060 | $28,400 | $64,180 | 1,200 | 1.58 |
| Texas | $45,720 | $34,730 | $64,130 | 2,270 | 0.69 |
| Utah | $50,840 | $32,600 | $69,850 | 250 | 0.62 |
| Vermont | $51,250 | $36,240 | $62,390 | 110 | 1.62 |
| Virginia | $47,480 | $36,840 | $68,460 | 1,240 | 1.3 |
| Washington | $53,990 | $42,410 | $76,030 | 590 | 0.71 |
| West Virginia | $39,210 | $29,820 | $51,640 | 130 | 0.77 |
| Wisconsin | $48,140 | $37,040 | $63,530 | 1,020 | 1.5 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,800. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 7.2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Record repairs made, time spent, and parts used.
- Test and inspect engines to determine malfunctions, to locate missing and broken parts, and to verify repairs, using diagnostic instruments.
- Dismantle engines, using hand tools, and examine parts for defects.
- Repair and maintain gasoline engines used to power equipment such as portable saws, lawn mowers, generators, and compressors.
- Adjust points, valves, carburetors, distributors, and spark plug gaps, using feeler gauges.
- Repair or replace defective parts such as magnetos, water pumps, gears, pistons, and carburetors, using hand tools.
- Perform routine maintenance such as cleaning and oiling parts, honing cylinders, and tuning ignition systems.
- Reassemble engines after repair or maintenance work is complete.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Ideal Computer Systems Ideal OPE
- Land & Sea DYNO-MAX
- RepairTRAX
- Sale processing software
- Smart Equipment Repair
- VersaDyne small engine test system
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Equipment Selection, Operation and Control.
Common job titles: Chainsaw Technician, Golf Cart Mechanic, Lawnmower Repair Mechanic, Mechanic, Outdoor Power Equipment Service Technician, Service Technician (Service Tech), Shop Mechanic, Small Engine Mechanic, Small Engine Technician (Small Engine Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics make?
The national median annual wage for outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics was $47,880 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,670 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $67,260. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics a growing career?
BLS projects employment of outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics to change +2.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,800 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($60,190), Hawaii ($58,110), Massachusetts ($57,830). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.