Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How to become an Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic

Official title: Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Also called: 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)

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment.

Main 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.

How to become one

Small engine mechanics typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award and learn their trade through on-the-job training.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Engine Repairer, Service.
Apprenticeship: Power-Saw Mechanic.
Apprenticeship: Small Engine Mechanic.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $47,880 a year The middle half earn $40,670 to $58,560.
About 38,300 people work in this job now, and about 39,200 are projected by 2035. (+2.3%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic?

Small engine mechanics typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award and learn their trade through on-the-job training.

How much does an Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $47,880 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $40,670 to $58,560.

Is an Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 2% by 2035, from about 38,300 to about 39,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Engine Repairer, Service.

Will AI change the work of an Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.