Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment.
Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment. The role reports a median annual salary of $46,560 in the US and is showing modest growth of 2% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a High school diploma or equivalent, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.47 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £37,458 a year for Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £30,000 to £44,594 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 5231). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Craft and related trades workers” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 7. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
- Transportation
- Sales and Marketing
- Computers and Electronics
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics do?
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment.
How much does Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics earn?
The median annual salary for Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics in the US is $46,560.
What is the job outlook for Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics?
The role is showing modest growth of 2% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 36,900 workers.
How do I become outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics?
The typical entry education is a High school diploma or equivalent. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Equipment Maintenance, Repairing, Troubleshooting, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Operation and Control. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics?
Our AI-durability model gives Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics a score of 0.47 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics has low barrier to entry — generally accessible — you can enter with basic credentials and on-the-job learning.