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Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic

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What You Need to Know About Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic

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

A Day in the Life of an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic

  • Replace motors.
  • Adjust points, valves, carburetors, distributors, and spark plug gaps, using feeler gauges.
  • Repair and maintain gasoline engines used to power equipment such as portable saws, lawn mowers, generators, and compressors.
  • Reassemble engines after repair or maintenance work is complete.
  • Repair or replace defective parts such as magnetos, water pumps, gears, pistons, and carburetors, using hand tools.
  • Grind, ream, rebore, and re-tap parts to obtain specified clearances, using grinders, lathes, taps, reamers, boring machines, and micrometers.

Things an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic Should Know How to Do

Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • Chain Saw Mechanic
  • Gas Golf Cart Repairer
  • Engine Mechanic
  • Small Engine Specialist
  • Chainsaw Technician

What Kind of Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic Job Opportunities Are There?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 37,600 jobs in the United States for Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,900 new jobs for Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic by 2026. The BLS estimates 4,400 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic are Utah, Tennessee, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Missouri. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic

The salary for Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics ranges between about $22,670 and $54,210 a year.

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Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics who work in Hawaii, Connecticut, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $34,700
Alaska $43,510
Arizona $35,160
Arkansas $29,280
California $39,390
Colorado $40,000
Connecticut $48,540
Delaware $41,870
Florida $36,550
Georgia $36,910
Hawaii $48,610
Idaho $34,230
Illinois $35,460
Indiana $34,310
Iowa $35,000
Kansas $35,060
Kentucky $29,710
Louisiana $34,640
Maine $36,990
Maryland $41,650
Massachusetts $43,090
Michigan $35,960
Minnesota $39,970
Mississippi $31,850
Missouri $39,390
Montana $36,210
Nebraska $35,100
Nevada $41,410
New Hampshire $40,590
New Jersey $44,800
New Mexico $35,090
New York $41,630
North Carolina $36,350
North Dakota $35,970
Ohio $32,950
Oklahoma $29,000
Oregon $39,180
Pennsylvania $33,500
Rhode Island $38,290
South Carolina $34,400
South Dakota $32,410
Tennessee $31,600
Texas $38,340
Utah $35,800
Vermont $36,550
Virginia $37,810
Washington $41,270
West Virginia $29,310
Wisconsin $35,060
Wyoming $40,070

Tools & Technologies Used by Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office
  • Web browser software
  • RepairTRAX
  • Sale processing software

How to Become an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic

Individuals working as an Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic have obtained the following education levels:

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How Long Does it Take to Become an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic?

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Where Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics Work

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Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics work in the following industries:

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Those interested in being an Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic may also be interested in:

Those who work as an Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:

References:

Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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