Motorcycle Mechanics
Motorcycle Mechanics (SOC 49-3052) earn a median $48,580 a year ($23.35 an hour) in the United States, with 13,510 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New Hampshire.
What motorcycle mechanics do
Motorcycle mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair or overhaul motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes and similar motorized vehicles. They listen to engines, examine vehicle frames and confer with customers to determine the nature and extent of a malfunction or damage. Engines are dismantled to repair or replace defective parts such as magnetos, carburetors and generators, and test panels are connected to engines to measure generator output, ignition timing and other performance indicators. Subassemblies such as forks, transmissions, brakes and drive chains are repaired or adjusted to specifications, and other parts such as headlights, horns, handlebar controls, fuel and oil tanks, starters and mufflers are repaired or replaced. Tires are mounted, balanced, changed and checked, and parts are replaced with hand tools, arbor presses, flexible power presses or other power tools. All terrain vehicle technician and custom bike builder are among the listed titles. Small engine mechanics (49-3053) and automotive service technicians (49-3023) are separate occupations.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most common level is a postsecondary certificate earned through a training program after high school.
Also called: All Terrain Vehicle Technician (ATV Technician), Bike Builder, Bike Technician, Custom Bike Builder, Dirt Bike Mechanic.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.72 | $19.01 | $23.35 | $29.57 | $35.77 | $25.18 | 13,510 |
| Annual | $34,770 | $39,550 | $48,580 | $61,510 | $74,400 | $52,370 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where motorcycle mechanics earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $23.09 | $24.36 | $30.24 | $31.36 | $34.78 | $28.53 | 130 | 0.19 | 2.14 |
| Annual | $48,020 | $50,670 | $62,890 | $65,220 | $72,340 | $59,340 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $18.84 | $24.35 | $29.06 | $34.55 | $36.50 | $28.64 | 110 | 0.07 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $39,180 | $50,650 | $60,450 | $71,860 | $75,920 | $59,570 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $22.76 | $24.14 | $28.57 | $31.13 | $38.41 | $29.55 | 260 | 0.06 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $47,350 | $50,210 | $59,430 | $64,740 | $79,890 | $61,460 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $22.52 | $24.03 | $28.02 | $29.37 | $33.67 | $27.09 | 350 | 0.12 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $46,840 | $49,970 | $58,280 | $61,090 | $70,040 | $56,340 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $19.18 | $22.42 | $27.91 | $32.59 | $55.73 | $30.99 | 160 | 0.08 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $39,900 | $46,630 | $58,040 | $67,790 | $115,910 | $64,460 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.75 | $21.55 | $27.42 | $33.49 | $36.57 | $27.54 | 1,730 | 0.10 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $36,910 | $44,830 | $57,040 | $69,660 | $76,070 | $57,280 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $16.52 | $18.51 | $25.64 | $30.86 | $36.29 | $25.90 | 1,170 | 0.08 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $34,360 | $38,510 | $53,330 | $64,190 | $75,470 | $53,870 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $16.50 | $21.50 | $23.41 | $28.81 | $32.62 | $24.54 | 730 | 0.07 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $34,330 | $44,720 | $48,700 | $59,920 | $67,840 | $51,050 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $17.29 | $22.02 | $23.17 | $27.51 | $35.66 | $24.77 | 550 | 0.19 | 2.14 |
| Annual | $35,970 | $45,790 | $48,190 | $57,230 | $74,170 | $51,520 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $14.47 | $17.08 | $21.29 | $23.86 | $30.02 | $21.84 | 520 | 0.10 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $30,110 | $35,530 | $44,280 | $49,640 | $62,450 | $45,440 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Fresno, CA | Hourly | $21.02 | $22.27 | $32.95 | $39.69 | $39.69 | $30.56 | 40 | 0.09 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $43,710 | $46,330 | $68,540 | $82,550 | $82,550 | $63,560 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.67 | $23.34 | $30.80 | $32.03 | $35.21 | $28.03 | 580 | 0.09 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $38,830 | $48,540 | $64,070 | $66,610 | $73,230 | $58,300 | ||||
| Reno, NV | Hourly | $18.84 | $25.82 | $30.25 | $35.20 | $37.00 | $29.21 | 40 | 0.13 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $39,180 | $53,710 | $62,910 | $73,210 | $76,950 | $60,770 | ||||
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | Hourly | $21.19 | $22.31 | $30.10 | $41.41 | $59.76 | $33.31 | 80 | 0.07 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $44,070 | $46,410 | $62,610 | $86,130 | $124,310 | $69,280 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.31 | $21.18 | $29.75 | $35.34 | $37.65 | $27.63 | 320 | 0.08 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $36,000 | $44,060 | $61,880 | $73,500 | $78,300 | $57,470 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $18.67 | $23.34 | $30.80 | $32.03 | $35.21 | $28.03 | 580 | 0.09 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $38,830 | $48,540 | $64,070 | $66,610 | $73,230 | $58,300 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.31 | $21.18 | $29.75 | $35.34 | $37.65 | $27.63 | 320 | 0.08 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $36,000 | $44,060 | $61,880 | $73,500 | $78,300 | $57,470 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.00 | $24.56 | $29.00 | $37.86 | $40.76 | $31.19 | 250 | 0.03 | 0.30 |
| Annual | $45,760 | $51,070 | $60,320 | $78,740 | $84,790 | $64,860 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $18.71 | $23.03 | $29.72 | $36.57 | $36.57 | $29.29 | 230 | 0.15 | 1.71 |
| Annual | $38,930 | $47,890 | $61,820 | $76,070 | $76,070 | $60,920 | ||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $17.39 | $17.39 | $22.29 | $33.50 | $35.90 | $25.26 | 210 | 0.12 | 1.39 |
| Annual | $36,160 | $36,160 | $46,350 | $69,680 | $74,680 | $52,530 | ||||
Top industries employing motorcycle mechanics
Other Motor Vehicle Dealers employ 85.6% of motorcycle mechanics nationally (11,570 jobs) at a median $48,650 a year ($23.39 an hour), followed by Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance (9.8%) and Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (1.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Motor Vehicle Dealers NAICS 441200 | 11,570 | 85.6% | $48,650 | $23.39 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811400 | 1,320 | 9.8% | $51,160 | $24.60 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing NAICS 336900 | 220 | 1.6% | $40,980 | $19.70 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811100 | 170 | 1.3% | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) NAICS 5320A1 | 70 | 0.5% | $43,710 | $21.02 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (13,510). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $38,170 for motorcycle mechanics in May 2021 and $48,580 in May 2025, with employment of 15,020 and 13,510.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $38,170 | $18.35 | 15,020 |
| May 2022 | $43,370 | $20.85 | 14,700 |
| May 2023 | $46,270 | $22.24 | 14,330 |
| May 2024 | $47,200 | $22.69 | 14,010 |
| May 2025 | $48,580 | $23.35 | 13,510 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
46 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire profile | $30.24 | $62,890 | $48,020 | $72,340 | 130 | 0.19 | 2.14 |
| 2 | Nevada profile | $29.06 | $60,450 | $39,180 | $75,920 | 110 | 0.07 | 0.85 |
| 3 | New Jersey profile | $28.57 | $59,430 | $47,350 | $79,890 | 260 | 0.06 | 0.69 |
| 4 | Minnesota profile | $28.02 | $58,280 | $46,840 | $70,040 | 350 | 0.12 | 1.36 |
| 5 | Oregon profile | $27.91 | $58,040 | $39,900 | $115,910 | 160 | 0.08 | 0.92 |
| 6 | Maryland profile | $27.71 | $57,640 | $43,830 | $91,520 | 170 | 0.06 | 0.72 |
| 7 | California profile | $27.42 | $57,040 | $36,910 | $76,070 | 1,730 | 0.10 | 1.09 |
| 8 | Colorado profile | $27.33 | $56,850 | $37,940 | $77,300 | 420 | 0.15 | 1.67 |
| 9 | New York profile | $26.33 | $54,770 | $37,620 | $84,950 | 270 | 0.03 | 0.32 |
| 10 | Texas profile | $25.64 | $53,330 | $34,360 | $75,470 | 1,170 | 0.08 | 0.96 |
| 11 | South Carolina profile | $25.08 | $52,160 | $30,680 | $64,440 | 220 | 0.10 | 1.11 |
| 12 | Connecticut profile | $24.99 | $51,970 | $40,710 | $72,080 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.68 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $24.99 | $51,970 | $38,760 | $84,630 | 300 | 0.09 | 0.98 |
| 14 | Nebraska profile | $24.12 | $50,170 | $38,420 | $64,810 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.46 |
| 15 | North Dakota profile | $24.12 | $50,170 | $38,260 | $76,410 | 110 | 0.25 | 2.88 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania profile | $24.06 | $50,050 | $37,010 | $75,150 | 490 | 0.08 | 0.92 |
| 17 | Virginia profile | $23.75 | $49,400 | $35,960 | $78,350 | 300 | 0.07 | 0.83 |
| 18 | Vermont profile | $23.54 | $48,970 | $39,330 | $56,530 | 60 | 0.18 | 2.10 |
| 19 | Massachusetts profile | $23.53 | $48,940 | $43,890 | $65,410 | ** | ** | ** |
| 20 | Florida profile | $23.41 | $48,700 | $34,330 | $67,840 | 730 | 0.07 | 0.85 |
| 21 | North Carolina profile | $23.40 | $48,670 | $34,120 | $65,900 | 440 | 0.09 | 1.03 |
| 22 | Maine profile | $23.26 | $48,380 | $36,830 | $62,840 | 100 | 0.15 | 1.77 |
| 23 | Kentucky profile | $23.18 | $48,220 | $30,780 | $62,730 | 200 | 0.10 | 1.13 |
| 24 | Wisconsin profile | $23.17 | $48,190 | $35,970 | $74,170 | 550 | 0.19 | 2.14 |
| 25 | Arkansas profile | $22.77 | $47,350 | $38,520 | $59,850 | 180 | 0.14 | 1.57 |
| 26 | Tennessee profile | $22.74 | $47,300 | $35,740 | $60,570 | 320 | 0.10 | 1.12 |
| 27 | Montana profile | $22.66 | $47,130 | $38,410 | $60,270 | 140 | 0.28 | 3.26 |
| 28 | New Mexico profile | $22.41 | $46,610 | $31,560 | $73,840 | 70 | 0.08 | 0.90 |
| 29 | South Dakota profile | $22.35 | $46,490 | $37,310 | $65,040 | 200 | 0.43 | 4.95 |
| 30 | Hawaii profile | $22.30 | $46,390 | $45,310 | $62,150 | 30 | 0.05 | 0.60 |
| 31 | Mississippi profile | $21.98 | $45,710 | $29,380 | $64,100 | 160 | 0.13 | 1.54 |
| 32 | Alaska profile | $21.88 | $45,500 | $37,650 | $69,860 | 220 | 0.68 | 7.77 |
| 33 | Indiana profile | $21.86 | $45,470 | $31,140 | $65,140 | 430 | 0.13 | 1.54 |
| 34 | Iowa profile | $21.56 | $44,840 | $32,770 | $72,800 | 300 | 0.20 | 2.25 |
| 35 | Oklahoma profile | $21.51 | $44,740 | $31,220 | $59,740 | 240 | 0.14 | 1.64 |
| 36 | Ohio profile | $21.29 | $44,280 | $30,110 | $62,450 | 520 | 0.10 | 1.09 |
| 37 | Arizona profile | $21.24 | $44,190 | $36,740 | $80,690 | 240 | 0.07 | 0.85 |
| 38 | Utah profile | $21.07 | $43,820 | $34,340 | $76,540 | 170 | 0.10 | 1.14 |
| 39 | Idaho profile | $20.90 | $43,470 | $28,720 | $72,800 | 130 | 0.15 | 1.72 |
| 40 | Georgia profile | $20.70 | $43,050 | $32,700 | $60,900 | 250 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| 41 | Alabama profile | $20.52 | $42,670 | $31,110 | $68,210 | 270 | 0.13 | 1.45 |
| 42 | Illinois profile | $20.02 | $41,630 | $36,710 | $59,320 | 290 | 0.05 | 0.55 |
| 43 | Michigan profile | $19.28 | $40,100 | $25,960 | $63,960 | 310 | 0.07 | 0.82 |
| 44 | Wyoming profile | $19.00 | $39,520 | $37,290 | $76,100 | 70 | 0.25 | 2.91 |
| 45 | West Virginia profile | $18.00 | $37,450 | $24,060 | $65,090 | 200 | 0.28 | 3.26 |
| – | Kansas profile | * | * | * | * | 260 | 0.18 | 2.08 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-3050), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-3052 Motorcycle Mechanics.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-3052, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-3052.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.