What Do Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic Do?
Job Description & Duties Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment and related equipment.
Life As an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic: What Do They Do?
- Perform routine maintenance such as cleaning and oiling parts, honing cylinders, and tuning ignition systems.
- 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.
- Show customers how to maintain equipment.
- Test and inspect engines to determine malfunctions, to locate missing and broken parts, and to verify repairs, using diagnostic instruments.
- Grind, ream, rebore, and re-tap parts to obtain specified clearances, using grinders, lathes, taps, reamers, boring machines, and micrometers.
Featured schools near , edit
Things an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic Should Know How to Do
When polled, Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Types of Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic Jobs
- Small Engine Technician
- Outdoor Power Equipment Mechanic (OPE Mechanic)
- Engine Service Repairer
- Shop Mechanic
- Lawnmower Repair Mechanic
Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic Employment Estimates
There were about 37,600 jobs for Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic in 2016 (in the United States). 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. There will be an estimated 4,400 positions for Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic per year.

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.
How Much Does an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic Make?
The average yearly salary of an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic ranges between $22,670 and $54,210.

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 do I Become an Outdoor Power Equipment & Small Engine Mechanic?
What kind of Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanics employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming an Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic might also be interested in the following careers:
- Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Career changers with experience as an Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engine Mechanic sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Nigel Sandridge via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |