Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics (SOC 49-3053) earn a median $47,880 a year ($23.02 an hour) in the United States, with 36,060 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics do
Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair and overhaul the small engines that power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment and similar machines. They test and inspect engines with diagnostic instruments to determine malfunctions and locate missing and broken parts, dismantle engines with hand tools, and examine the parts for defects. Gasoline engines that power equipment such as portable saws, lawn mowers, generators and compressors are repaired and maintained. Mechanics adjust points, valves, carburetors, distributors and spark plug gaps using feeler gauges, and fix or replace faulty parts including magnetos, water pumps, gears, pistons and carburetors with hand tools. Routine maintenance includes cleaning and oiling parts, honing cylinders and tuning ignition systems, and engines are reassembled afterward. The mechanic records repairs made, time spent and parts used. Chain saw mechanic, garden equipment mechanic, electric golf cart repairer and electric wheelchair repairer are among the listed titles. Motorcycle mechanics (49-3052) are a separate occupation.
Typical entry: Most workers in this occupation report a high school diploma or equivalent as their level of education, according to O*NET.
Also called: Chain Saw Mechanic, Chainsaw Technician, Edge Trimmer Mechanic, Electric Golf Cart Repairer, Electric Wheelchair Repairer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.67 | $19.56 | $23.02 | $28.15 | $32.34 | $24.04 | 36,060 |
| Annual | $34,670 | $40,670 | $47,880 | $58,560 | $67,260 | $49,990 | ||
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 outdoor power equipment and other small engine 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 | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $20.85 | $23.47 | $28.94 | $31.39 | $34.06 | $28.33 | 50 | 0.16 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $43,370 | $48,820 | $60,190 | $65,300 | $70,850 | $58,930 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $18.96 | $22.67 | $27.94 | $31.10 | $36.40 | $27.49 | 210 | 0.34 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $39,430 | $47,150 | $58,110 | $64,680 | $75,710 | $57,170 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $22.61 | $24.00 | $27.80 | $30.00 | $37.84 | $28.40 | 800 | 0.22 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $47,020 | $49,920 | $57,830 | $62,390 | $78,720 | $59,070 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $21.54 | $24.00 | $27.70 | $31.47 | $37.39 | $28.23 | 210 | 0.31 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $44,810 | $49,920 | $57,610 | $65,450 | $77,770 | $58,710 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $16.98 | $18.81 | $27.29 | $32.89 | $45.03 | $27.32 | 170 | 0.11 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $35,320 | $39,120 | $56,750 | $68,410 | $93,670 | $56,820 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.13 | $19.73 | $23.00 | $27.73 | $31.35 | $23.99 | 3,450 | 0.35 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $35,640 | $41,040 | $47,840 | $57,670 | $65,220 | $49,890 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $17.76 | $20.95 | $24.42 | $29.50 | $36.55 | $25.81 | 2,470 | 0.14 | 0.59 |
| Annual | $36,950 | $43,580 | $50,790 | $61,350 | $76,030 | $53,680 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $16.70 | $19.59 | $21.98 | $24.83 | $30.83 | $22.71 | 2,270 | 0.16 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $34,730 | $40,740 | $45,720 | $51,650 | $64,130 | $47,230 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $15.51 | $18.05 | $22.77 | $28.20 | $30.64 | $23.02 | 1,950 | 0.39 | 1.70 |
| Annual | $32,260 | $37,540 | $47,370 | $58,660 | $63,720 | $47,880 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $16.40 | $20.02 | $22.47 | $26.63 | $29.37 | $22.93 | 1,860 | 0.42 | 1.82 |
| Annual | $34,110 | $41,630 | $46,730 | $55,380 | $61,090 | $47,700 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Haven, CT | Hourly | $23.08 | $27.52 | $34.74 | $46.15 | $46.15 | $35.93 | 70 | 0.25 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $48,000 | $57,240 | $72,260 | $95,990 | $95,990 | $74,740 | ||||
| Rochester, MN | Hourly | $18.07 | $23.45 | $29.77 | $31.76 | $36.15 | $28.03 | 50 | 0.43 | 1.85 |
| Annual | $37,590 | $48,770 | $61,920 | $66,060 | $75,190 | $58,310 | ||||
| Idaho Falls, ID | Hourly | $24.12 | $25.24 | $29.50 | $39.25 | $44.58 | $31.57 | 30 | 0.41 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $50,160 | $52,500 | $61,360 | $81,640 | $92,720 | $65,670 | ||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $21.32 | $23.02 | $29.36 | $32.32 | $36.33 | $28.21 | 40 | 0.59 | 2.54 |
| Annual | $44,340 | $47,880 | $61,070 | $67,220 | $75,570 | $58,680 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $21.00 | $22.19 | $28.94 | $30.69 | $31.53 | $27.90 | 30 | 0.20 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $43,690 | $46,140 | $60,190 | $63,840 | $65,570 | $58,030 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $22.02 | $24.02 | $27.46 | $31.35 | $35.87 | $28.09 | 870 | 0.09 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $45,790 | $49,960 | $57,110 | $65,200 | $74,610 | $58,430 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $16.01 | $18.46 | $22.97 | $27.60 | $30.19 | $23.62 | 820 | 0.28 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $33,300 | $38,410 | $47,780 | $57,400 | $62,800 | $49,130 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $16.99 | $21.19 | $23.11 | $28.72 | $33.76 | $24.50 | 810 | 0.29 | 1.24 |
| Annual | $35,340 | $44,060 | $48,060 | $59,740 | $70,220 | $50,950 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $15.83 | $18.26 | $23.02 | $27.20 | $29.86 | $22.72 | 810 | 0.34 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $32,920 | $37,980 | $47,880 | $56,570 | $62,120 | $47,250 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $17.73 | $21.58 | $23.32 | $27.91 | $29.56 | $23.85 | 670 | 0.35 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $36,870 | $44,890 | $48,500 | $58,060 | $61,480 | $49,600 | ||||
Top industries employing outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers employ 20.3% of outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics nationally (7,310 jobs) at a median $46,890 a year ($22.55 an hour), followed by Services to Buildings and Dwellings (18.9%) and Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (14.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Retailers NAICS 444200 | 7,310 | 20.3% | $46,890 | $22.55 |
| Services to Buildings and Dwellings NAICS 561700 | 6,810 | 18.9% | $51,240 | $24.64 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries NAICS 713900 | 5,180 | 14.4% | $49,200 | $23.66 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers NAICS 444100 | 4,500 | 12.5% | $44,840 | $21.56 |
| Other Motor Vehicle Dealers NAICS 441200 | 1,970 | 5.5% | $45,470 | $21.86 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (36,060). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $37,540 for outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics in May 2021 and $47,880 in May 2025, with employment of 34,700 and 36,060.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $37,540 | $18.05 | 34,700 |
| May 2022 | $40,030 | $19.25 | 35,570 |
| May 2023 | $44,140 | $21.22 | 36,080 |
| May 2024 | $46,560 | $22.38 | 34,240 |
| May 2025 | $47,880 | $23.02 | 36,060 |
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
49 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 | Alaska profile | $28.94 | $60,190 | $43,370 | $70,850 | 50 | 0.16 | 0.67 |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $27.94 | $58,110 | $39,430 | $75,710 | 210 | 0.34 | 1.45 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $27.80 | $57,830 | $47,020 | $78,720 | 800 | 0.22 | 0.95 |
| 4 | New Hampshire profile | $27.70 | $57,610 | $44,810 | $77,770 | 210 | 0.31 | 1.34 |
| 5 | Nevada profile | $27.29 | $56,750 | $35,320 | $93,670 | 170 | 0.11 | 0.48 |
| 6 | Connecticut profile | $27.25 | $56,680 | $46,230 | $78,710 | 560 | 0.33 | 1.41 |
| 7 | Minnesota profile | $26.92 | $55,990 | $38,370 | $73,300 | 630 | 0.21 | 0.92 |
| 8 | Idaho profile | $26.59 | $55,320 | $39,330 | $81,640 | 190 | 0.22 | 0.94 |
| 9 | Missouri profile | $26.50 | $55,120 | $34,870 | $62,670 | 690 | 0.24 | 1.02 |
| 10 | Delaware profile | $26.07 | $54,230 | $40,560 | $73,020 | 80 | 0.17 | 0.74 |
| 11 | Washington profile | $25.96 | $53,990 | $42,410 | $76,030 | 590 | 0.17 | 0.71 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $25.30 | $52,620 | $39,990 | $76,400 | 690 | 0.24 | 1.03 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $25.08 | $52,160 | $40,740 | $82,040 | 100 | 0.20 | 0.85 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | $25.00 | $52,000 | $44,600 | $72,310 | 660 | 0.15 | 0.66 |
| 15 | Vermont profile | $24.64 | $51,250 | $36,240 | $62,390 | 110 | 0.38 | 1.62 |
| 16 | Utah profile | $24.44 | $50,840 | $32,600 | $69,850 | 250 | 0.15 | 0.62 |
| 17 | California profile | $24.42 | $50,790 | $36,950 | $76,030 | 2,470 | 0.14 | 0.59 |
| 18 | New York profile | $24.35 | $50,640 | $36,020 | $67,650 | 1,480 | 0.15 | 0.66 |
| 19 | North Dakota profile | $24.30 | $50,540 | $41,630 | $60,900 | 190 | 0.43 | 1.86 |
| 20 | Oregon profile | $24.05 | $50,020 | $39,900 | $74,140 | 280 | 0.14 | 0.62 |
| 21 | Nebraska profile | $23.90 | $49,710 | $36,240 | $66,100 | 300 | 0.29 | 1.26 |
| 22 | Wisconsin profile | $23.14 | $48,140 | $37,040 | $63,530 | 1,020 | 0.35 | 1.50 |
| 23 | Maine profile | $23.06 | $47,960 | $37,620 | $72,330 | 300 | 0.47 | 2.02 |
| 24 | Montana profile | $23.02 | $47,880 | $35,360 | $63,020 | 190 | 0.36 | 1.56 |
| 25 | Florida profile | $23.00 | $47,840 | $35,640 | $65,220 | 3,450 | 0.35 | 1.50 |
| 26 | South Carolina profile | $22.84 | $47,510 | $31,770 | $70,050 | 660 | 0.29 | 1.24 |
| 27 | Virginia profile | $22.83 | $47,480 | $36,840 | $68,460 | 1,240 | 0.30 | 1.30 |
| 28 | North Carolina profile | $22.77 | $47,370 | $32,260 | $63,720 | 1,950 | 0.39 | 1.70 |
| 29 | Georgia profile | $22.77 | $47,360 | $33,060 | $62,800 | 1,620 | 0.33 | 1.42 |
| 30 | Indiana profile | $22.72 | $47,260 | $34,110 | $60,590 | 1,150 | 0.36 | 1.55 |
| 31 | Michigan profile | $22.47 | $46,730 | $34,110 | $61,090 | 1,860 | 0.42 | 1.82 |
| 32 | Arizona profile | $22.39 | $46,580 | $30,600 | $62,120 | 1,050 | 0.32 | 1.39 |
| 33 | Kansas profile | $22.38 | $46,540 | $34,080 | $58,370 | 170 | 0.12 | 0.50 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania profile | $22.24 | $46,270 | $33,990 | $71,720 | 1,590 | 0.26 | 1.13 |
| 35 | Illinois profile | $22.21 | $46,190 | $34,690 | $68,410 | 780 | 0.13 | 0.55 |
| 36 | Ohio profile | $22.17 | $46,110 | $29,780 | $60,850 | 1,480 | 0.27 | 1.15 |
| 37 | Tennessee profile | $22.15 | $46,060 | $28,400 | $64,180 | 1,200 | 0.37 | 1.58 |
| 38 | Iowa profile | $22.03 | $45,830 | $30,100 | $70,490 | 430 | 0.27 | 1.18 |
| 39 | Texas profile | $21.98 | $45,720 | $34,730 | $64,130 | 2,270 | 0.16 | 0.69 |
| 40 | Maryland profile | $21.94 | $45,630 | $38,130 | $66,850 | 440 | 0.16 | 0.69 |
| 41 | Louisiana profile | $20.77 | $43,200 | $31,970 | $66,040 | 260 | 0.13 | 0.57 |
| 42 | Alabama profile | $20.73 | $43,110 | $30,930 | $57,530 | 400 | 0.19 | 0.81 |
| 43 | Kentucky profile | $20.72 | $43,110 | $31,350 | $63,450 | 500 | 0.25 | 1.09 |
| 44 | Oklahoma profile | $20.50 | $42,630 | $30,230 | $62,340 | 380 | 0.23 | 0.97 |
| 45 | New Mexico profile | $20.44 | $42,520 | $26,020 | $55,800 | 110 | 0.13 | 0.56 |
| 46 | South Dakota profile | $19.99 | $41,580 | $34,770 | $57,660 | 160 | 0.35 | 1.51 |
| 47 | West Virginia profile | $18.85 | $39,210 | $29,820 | $51,640 | 130 | 0.18 | 0.77 |
| 48 | Mississippi profile | $18.22 | $37,900 | $30,470 | $52,260 | 150 | 0.13 | 0.56 |
| 49 | Arkansas profile | $18.08 | $37,610 | $28,150 | $58,200 | 390 | 0.30 | 1.29 |
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 49-3053 Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics.
- 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 49-3053, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-3053.00, 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.