49 Series · SOC 49-3052
Motorcycle Mechanics Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $48,580
- Median / year
- $74,400
- Top 10% earn
- +5.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 13,510
- US workers
Motorcycle Mechanics earn a median of $48,580 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $48,580, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,770 (10th percentile) to $74,400 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 13,510 US workers. New Hampshire pays the most ($62,890), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Motorcycle Mechanics earn a median of $48,580, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 30% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Installation, Maintenance, and Repair, it ranks #41 of 51 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.3% by 2033.
- $48,580
- Median annual wage
- Top 70%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #41 of 51
- in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- 2.1×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: New Hampshire at $62,890. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Motorcycle Mechanics (SOC 49-3052) pays a national median of $48,580 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,770 at the 10th percentile to $74,400 at the 90th, with a mean of $52,370 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 13,510 Americans work in this occupation across 45 reporting states and 81 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 8.1 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. New Hampshire pays the highest state median at $62,890, which is +29% above the national figure. The top metro is Fresno, CA at $68,540 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$48,580
per year
Median Hourly
$23.35/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$52,370
average
Employment
13,510
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Motorcycle Mechanics pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$48,580 Bottom 30% higher than 30% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 49-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Motorcycle Mechanics; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 49-series occupations with growth data, Motorcycle Mechanics sits on the faster-growing side at +5.3% growth and $48,580 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+5.3%
About average
Annual Openings
1,500
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
8.1/100K
Injury Rate
3/100
Danger Index
16/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Motorcycle Mechanics roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Mount, balance, change, or check condition or pressure of tires.
- ▸ Replace defective parts, using hand tools, arbor presses, flexible power presses, or power tools.
- ▸ Dismantle engines and repair or replace defective parts, such as magnetos, carburetors, or generators.
- ▸ Connect test panels to engines and measure generator output, ignition timing, or other engine performance indicators.
- ▸ Listen to engines, examine vehicle frames, or confer with customers to determine nature and extent of malfunction or damage.
- ▸ Repair or replace other parts, such as headlights, horns, handlebar controls, gasoline or oil tanks, starters, or mufflers.
- ▸ Disassemble subassembly units and examine condition, movement, or alignment of parts, visually or using gauges.
- ▸ Repair or adjust motorcycle subassemblies, such as forks, transmissions, brakes, or drive chains, according to specifications.
- ▸ Reassemble frames and reinstall engines after repairs.
- ▸ Remove cylinder heads and grind valves to scrape off carbon and replace defective valves, pistons, cylinders, or rings, using hand and power tools.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$34,770
25th Percentile
$39,550
Median
$48,580
75th Percentile
$61,510
90th Percentile
$74,400
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 45 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $62,890 | +29% above national |
| 2 | Nevada | $60,450 | +24% above national |
| 3 | New Jersey | $59,430 | +22% above national |
| 4 | Minnesota | $58,280 | +20% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $58,040 | +19% above national |
| 6 | Maryland | $57,640 | +19% above national |
| 7 | California | $57,040 | +17% above national |
| 8 | Colorado | $56,850 | +17% above national |
| 9 | New York | $54,770 | +13% above national |
| 10 | Texas | $53,330 | +10% above national |
| 11 | South Carolina | $52,160 | +7% above national |
| 12 | Connecticut | $51,970 | +7% above national |
| 13 | Washington | $51,970 | +7% above national |
| 14 | Nebraska | $50,170 | +3% above national |
| 15 | North Dakota | $50,170 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $50,050 | +3% above national |
| 17 | Virginia | $49,400 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Vermont | $48,970 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $48,940 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Florida | $48,700 | same as national |
| 21 | North Carolina | $48,670 | same as national |
| 22 | Maine | $48,380 | same as national |
| 23 | Kentucky | $48,220 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $48,190 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Arkansas | $47,350 | 3% below national |
| 26 | Tennessee | $47,300 | 3% below national |
| 27 | Montana | $47,130 | 3% below national |
| 28 | New Mexico | $46,610 | 4% below national |
| 29 | South Dakota | $46,490 | 4% below national |
| 30 | Hawaii | $46,390 | 5% below national |
| 31 | Mississippi | $45,710 | 6% below national |
| 32 | Alaska | $45,500 | 6% below national |
| 33 | Indiana | $45,470 | 6% below national |
| 34 | Iowa | $44,840 | 8% below national |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $44,740 | 8% below national |
| 36 | Ohio | $44,280 | 9% below national |
| 37 | Arizona | $44,190 | 9% below national |
| 38 | Utah | $43,820 | 10% below national |
| 39 | Idaho | $43,470 | 11% below national |
| 40 | Georgia | $43,050 | 11% below national |
| 41 | Alabama | $42,670 | 12% below national |
| 42 | Illinois | $41,630 | 14% below national |
| 43 | Michigan | $40,100 | 17% below national |
| 44 | Wyoming | $39,520 | 19% below national |
| 45 | West Virginia | $37,450 | 23% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 81 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno, CA | $68,540 | +41% above national |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $64,070 | +32% above national |
| 3 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $63,030 | +30% above national |
| 4 | Reno, NV | $62,910 | +29% above national |
| 5 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $62,610 | +29% above national |
| 6 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $61,880 | +27% above national |
| 7 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,820 | +27% above national |
| 8 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $61,010 | +26% above national |
| 9 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $60,740 | +25% above national |
| 10 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $60,360 | +24% above national |
| 11 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,320 | +24% above national |
| 12 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $59,560 | +23% above national |
| 13 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $58,890 | +21% above national |
| 14 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,330 | +20% above national |
| 15 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $57,790 | +19% above national |
| 16 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $57,340 | +18% above national |
| 17 | Bismarck, ND | $57,160 | +18% above national |
| 18 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,040 | +17% above national |
| 19 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $56,510 | +16% above national |
| 20 | Colorado Springs, CO | $56,490 | +16% above national |
| 21 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $56,360 | +16% above national |
| 22 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $56,160 | +16% above national |
| 23 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $55,550 | +14% above national |
| 24 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $55,420 | +14% above national |
| 25 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $52,160 | +7% above national |
| 26 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $52,040 | +7% above national |
| 27 | Appleton, WI | $52,000 | +7% above national |
| 28 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $52,000 | +7% above national |
| 29 | Asheville, NC | $51,000 | +5% above national |
| 30 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $50,670 | +4% above national |
| 31 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $50,590 | +4% above national |
| 32 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $50,170 | +3% above national |
| 33 | Lubbock, TX | $49,990 | +3% above national |
| 34 | Winston-Salem, NC | $49,770 | +2% above national |
| 35 | Omaha, NE-IA | $49,640 | +2% above national |
| 36 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $49,510 | +2% above national |
| 37 | Madison, WI | $49,450 | +2% above national |
| 38 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $49,240 | +1% above national |
| 39 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $49,220 | +1% above national |
| 40 | Pittsburgh, PA | $49,200 | +1% above national |
| 41 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $49,110 | +1% above national |
| 42 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,760 | same as national |
| 43 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $48,670 | same as national |
| 44 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $48,240 | 1% below national |
| 45 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $47,510 | 2% below national |
| 46 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $47,260 | 3% below national |
| 47 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $47,040 | 3% below national |
| 48 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $46,960 | 3% below national |
| 49 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,730 | 4% below national |
| 50 | Rapid City, SD | $46,390 | 5% below national |
| 51 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,350 | 5% below national |
| 52 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,290 | 5% below national |
| 53 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,190 | 5% below national |
| 54 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $46,180 | 5% below national |
| 55 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,120 | 5% below national |
| 56 | Tulsa, OK | $45,800 | 6% below national |
| 57 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $45,760 | 6% below national |
| 58 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $45,330 | 7% below national |
| 59 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $45,300 | 7% below national |
| 60 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $45,260 | 7% below national |
| 61 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,120 | 7% below national |
| 62 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,030 | 7% below national |
| 63 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $44,940 | 7% below national |
| 64 | Oklahoma City, OK | $44,630 | 8% below national |
| 65 | Cleveland, OH | $44,580 | 8% below national |
| 66 | Columbus, OH | $44,280 | 9% below national |
| 67 | Anchorage, AK | $43,680 | 10% below national |
| 68 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $43,460 | 11% below national |
| 69 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $43,340 | 11% below national |
| 70 | Ogden, UT | $43,210 | 11% below national |
| 71 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $42,770 | 12% below national |
| 72 | El Paso, TX | $42,100 | 13% below national |
| 73 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $41,600 | 14% below national |
| 74 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $39,940 | 18% below national |
| 75 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $39,900 | 18% below national |
| 76 | Yuba City, CA | $38,480 | 21% below national |
| 77 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $38,370 | 21% below national |
| 78 | Boise City, ID | $38,230 | 21% below national |
| 79 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $37,360 | 23% below national |
| 80 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $36,650 | 25% below national |
| 81 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $31,920 | 34% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 49 (installation maintenance and repair) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Motorcycle Mechanics make? ▼
What state pays Motorcycle Mechanics the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Motorcycle Mechanics? ▼
How dangerous is being a Motorcycle Mechanics? ▼
Is Motorcycle Mechanics a good career? ▼
How does Motorcycle Mechanics pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Motorcycle Mechanics? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Motorcycle Mechanics pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $61,510/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: New Hampshire leads at $62,890/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.