Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Moderate Risk
Low High

Explore safer careers (5)

Lower estimated automation risk

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
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Why it fits

Experienced mechanics can progress into shop scheduling, quality checks, and technician supervision.

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
41% automation risk | Moderate Risk
Pays better
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Why it fits

Direct repair move using small-engine diagnostics, power tools, wiring, switches, and bench service.

Industrial Machinery Mechanics
41% automation risk | Moderate Risk
Pays better Higher growth
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Why it fits

Repair discipline, mechanical systems, troubleshooting, and maintenance records apply to plant machinery.

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
46% automation risk | Moderate Risk
Pays better Higher growth
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Why it fits

Mechanical troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and equipment service habits carry over with training.

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
42% automation risk | Moderate Risk
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Why it fits

Engine diagnosis and repair experience supports a diesel path with heavier systems training.

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Occupation snapshot

What does this snowflake show?
The Snowflake is a visual summary of the five badges: Automation Risk (calculated), Risk (polled), Growth, Wages and Volume. It gives you an instant snapshot of an occupations profile. The colour of the Snowflake relates to its size. The better the occupation scores in relation to others, the larger and greener the Snowflake becomes.
JOB SCORE
3.2/10
What's this?
Job Score (higher is better):

We rate jobs using four factors. These are:

- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions

These are some key things to think about when job hunting.

Risk & user votes

Calculated automation risk

52% (Moderate Risk)

Moderate Risk (41-60%): This occupation may be meaningfully affected by automation. Some parts of the role may be suitable for AI, software, or robotics, while others still rely on human skill, judgement, trust, or real-world context. People in this range may benefit from building skills that complement automation and reduce replacement risk.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Human strengths important in this job

These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.

Decision-making and problem solving

Quite important
Why this matters
Analyze information, weigh tradeoffs, and choose the best solution—especially when situations are ambiguous, high-stakes, or have real-world consequences.
Jobs that also use this strength

Education and training expertise

Quite important
Why this matters
Designing and delivering instruction—adapting lessons to different learners and measuring whether training actually works.
Jobs that also use this strength

What users think

Based on 18 votes

50% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted they are unsure if this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 52% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?

View sentiment trend

Pay & outlook

Wages

Low paid relative to other professions

In 2024, the median annual wage for Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics was $46,560 ($22 per hour).

The median annual wage for Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics was 5.9% lower than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.

View wage trend

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Growth

Moderate growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics' job openings is expected to rise 2.5% by 2034

View employment trend

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2023 and 2033
Updated projections are due 09-2025.

Volume

Lower range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2024 there were 34,240 people employed as 'Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics' within the United States.

This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country

Put another way, around 1 in 4 thousand people are employed as 'Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics'.

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Job description

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

O*NET-SOC code: 49-3053.00