Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics to grow 2.3% from 2025 to 2035 (about 900 more jobs), with about 3,800 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $47,880 a year ranks 602nd of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +2.3%
- Openings a year
- 3,800
- Median pay
- $47,880
- Pay rank
- 602nd of 825
Is employment of outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics to rise 2.3% (about 900 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is slower than the +5.4% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 51 installation, maintenance, and repair occupations with a projection. That change ranks 461st of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 38,300 |
| Employment, 2035 | 39,200 |
| Projected change | +2.3% |
| Openings a year | 3,800 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 38,300 jobs here differ from the 36,060 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 3,800 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 430th most of 830 occupations. About 98% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 90 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics rank?
The median of $47,880 a year ranks 602nd of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the lower half of occupations on both pay and openings.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: high school diploma or equivalent.
- Typical on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | +4.4% | 1,400 | $56,210 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | +3.6% | 24,400 | $61,770 |
| Motorcycle Mechanics | +2.1% | 1,400 | $48,580 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | +6.7% | 15,000 | $65,510 |
| Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians | +4.9% | 2,600 | $57,550 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | +17.8% | 44,400 | $64,520 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | +5.0% | 66,200 | $50,620 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | -1.9% | 4,400 | $60,850 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.