Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
Also called: Mechanic, Outdoor Power Equipment Service Technician, Service Technician (Service Tech), Small Engine MechanicDiagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 2 of its 14 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 2.3% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.3% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Small engine mechanics”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 9.1 hires for every 10 job openings in retail trade, which employs about 41% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.9.1 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,110 | $36,010 to $51,080 | 400 |
| Alaska | $60,190 | $48,820 to $65,300 | 50 |
| Arizona | $46,580 | $37,110 to $52,570 | 1,050 |
| Arkansas | $37,610 | $33,870 to $46,850 | 390 |
| California | $50,790 | $43,580 to $61,350 | 2,470 |
| Colorado | $52,620 | $46,730 to $62,400 | 690 |
| Connecticut | $56,680 | $50,400 to $66,560 | 560 |
| Delaware | $54,230 | $45,970 to $61,340 | 80 |
| Florida | $47,840 | $41,040 to $57,670 | 3,450 |
| Georgia | $47,360 | $37,450 to $56,540 | 1,620 |
| Hawaii | $58,110 | $47,150 to $64,680 | 210 |
| Idaho | $55,320 | $47,430 to $62,010 | 190 |
| Illinois | $46,190 | $39,160 to $59,340 | 780 |
| Indiana | $47,260 | $37,070 to $51,360 | 1,150 |
| Iowa | $45,830 | $37,790 to $54,080 | 430 |
| Kansas | $46,540 | $38,470 to $51,140 | 170 |
| Kentucky | $43,110 | $38,850 to $50,010 | 500 |
| Louisiana | $43,200 | $37,260 to $51,050 | 260 |
| Maine | $47,960 | $42,190 to $60,370 | 300 |
| Maryland | $45,630 | $41,290 to $59,540 | 440 |
| Massachusetts | $57,830 | $49,920 to $62,390 | 800 |
| Michigan | $46,730 | $41,630 to $55,380 | 1,860 |
| Minnesota | $55,990 | $48,770 to $62,670 | 630 |
| Mississippi | $37,900 | $35,770 to $44,350 | 150 |
| Missouri | $55,120 | $46,000 to $59,990 | 690 |
| Montana | $47,880 | $39,120 to $56,730 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $49,710 | $41,270 to $58,280 | 300 |
| Nevada | $56,750 | $39,120 to $68,410 | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $57,610 | $49,920 to $65,450 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $52,000 | $48,240 to $63,410 | 660 |
| New Mexico | $42,520 | $38,580 to $49,280 | 110 |
| New York | $50,640 | $45,340 to $59,640 | 1,480 |
| North Carolina | $47,370 | $37,540 to $58,660 | 1,950 |
| North Dakota | $50,540 | $44,760 to $55,050 | 190 |
| Ohio | $46,110 | $36,190 to $54,980 | 1,480 |
| Oklahoma | $42,630 | $32,700 to $57,000 | 380 |
| Oregon | $50,020 | $46,140 to $58,450 | 280 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,270 | $39,300 to $57,460 | 1,590 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,730 | $21,840 to $28,890 | 110 |
| Rhode Island | $52,160 | $48,700 to $67,560 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $47,510 | $38,980 to $55,120 | 660 |
| South Dakota | $41,580 | $38,690 to $47,630 | 160 |
| Tennessee | $46,060 | $38,110 to $51,440 | 1,200 |
| Texas | $45,720 | $40,740 to $51,650 | 2,270 |
| Utah | $50,840 | $39,120 to $66,150 | 250 |
| Vermont | $51,250 | $44,770 to $58,000 | 110 |
| Virginia | $47,480 | $42,390 to $59,420 | 1,240 |
| Washington | $53,990 | $46,550 to $64,160 | 590 |
| West Virginia | $39,210 | $31,200 to $46,650 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $48,140 | $44,610 to $60,270 | 1,020 |
Nationally: $47,880. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 2 of its 14 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI alone | Record repairs made, time spent, and parts used. | Not published |
| Not much | Test and inspect engines to determine malfunctions, to locate missing and broken parts, and to verify repairs, using diagnostic instruments. | Not published |
| Not much | Dismantle engines, using hand tools, and examine parts for defects. | Not published |
| Not much | Repair and maintain gasoline engines used to power equipment such as portable saws, lawn mowers, generators, and compressors. | Not published |
| Not much | Adjust points, valves, carburetors, distributors, and spark plug gaps, using feeler gauges. | Not published |
| Not much | Repair or replace defective parts such as magnetos, water pumps, gears, pistons, and carburetors, using hand tools. | Not published |
See all 14 tasks
| Not much | Perform routine maintenance such as cleaning and oiling parts, honing cylinders, and tuning ignition systems. | Not published |
| Not much | Reassemble engines after repair or maintenance work is complete. | Not published |
| Not much | Replace motors. | Not published |
| AI + software | Obtain problem descriptions from customers, and prepare cost estimates for repairs. | Not published |
| Not much | Remove engines from equipment, and position and bolt engines to repair stands. | Not published |
| Not much | Grind, ream, rebore, and re-tap parts to obtain specified clearances, using grinders, lathes, taps, reamers, boring machines, and micrometers. | Not published |
| Not much | Show customers how to maintain equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Sell parts and equipment. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 0 of the 14 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 14 tasks fall under 17 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Disassemble equipment | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Inspect vehicles | |||
| Confer with clients to determine needs or order specifications | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems |
Show all 17 activities
| Estimate project development or operational costs | |||
| Position tools or equipment | |||
| Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Sell products or services | |||
| Maintain vehicles in working condition | |||
| Train others to use equipment or products | |||
| Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment | |||
| Repair vehicle components |
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 756 moves out
- 1 Carpenters Low +3.9% 5%
- 2 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Moderate +5.0% 5%
- 3 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
- 4 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Low +2.5% 4%
- 5 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 766 moves in
- 1 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Moderate +5.0% 8%
- 2 Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks High -7.6% 7%
- 3 Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Low +2.5% 6%
- 4 Carpenters Low +3.9% 6%
- 5 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 12% less than high school
- 48% high school
- 12% postsecondary certificate
- 27% some college
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 20 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 13% less than high school
- 52% high school
- 23% some college
- 6% associate's
- 3% bachelor's
- 2% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Small engine mechanics” · 487 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Small engine mechanics”
1 program: Small Engine Mechanics and Repair Technology/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 4 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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