Motorcycle Mechanics earn a median of $48,580 per year ($23.35/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 2.1% through 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 49-3052
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Motorcycle Mechanic in four numbers
- Median pay
- $48,580a year, or $23.35/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $74K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.1%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,40014,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202514.2K
- Projected 203514.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 14.2K Projected 2035 14.5K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school25.7%
- Certificate59.6%
- Associate's4%
- Bachelor's9.5%
- Professional degree1.3%
Highest education held by motorcycle mechanics Segment Value High school 25.7% Certificate 59.6% Associate's 4% Bachelor's 9.5% Professional degree 1.3%
Also advertised as: All Terrain Vehicle Technician (ATV Technician), Custom Bike Builder, Motorcycle Mechanic, Motorcycle Service Technician, Motorcycle Technician, Motorsports Technician.
Pay
How much do Motorcycle Mechanics make?
Every motorcycle mechanic in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$48,580
Middle half earn $39,550 to $61,510
- 10th
- $34,770
- 25th
- $39,550
- 75th
- $61,510
- 90th
- $74,400
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,770 |
| 25th | $39,550 |
| Median | $48,580 |
| 75th | $61,510 |
| 90th | $74,400 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $48,580
- Median hourly wage
- $23.35/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $52,370
- People employed
- 13,510
Versus all US occupations
At $48,580, Motorcycle Mechanics earn 5% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,400 a year.
Versus installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
Inside the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair group, where the middle occupation pays $61,150, this is 21% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $74,400 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,770, a gap of 2.1×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 19% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
New Hampshire posts the highest raw median ($62,890), but once local prices are taken into account Nevada leads at $60,463 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Motorcycle Mechanics the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Hampshire | $62,890 | $60,375 | 130 |
| 2Nevada | $60,450 | $60,463 | 110 |
| 3New Jersey | $59,430 | $54,621 | 260 |
| 4Minnesota | $58,280 | $59,095 | 350 |
| 5Oregon | $58,040 | $56,153 | 160 |
| 6Maryland | $57,640 | $54,917 | 170 |
| 7California | $57,040 | $51,517 | 1,730 |
| 8Colorado | $56,850 | $55,166 | 420 |
| 9New York | $54,770 | $50,750 | 270 |
| 10Texas | $53,330 | $54,947 | 1,170 |
Job outlook
Is Motorcycle Mechanic a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle Mechanics | +2.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Motorcycle Mechanics to change 2.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,400 openings are projected each year, 9.9% of the 14,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of small engine mechanics is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of small engine mechanics varies by occupation (see table).
Increased demand for motorboats, as well as for outdoor power equipment, is expected to create jobs for small engine mechanics over the projections decade. In addition, boat and motorcycle engines, as well as engines and parts for outdoor power equipment, have become more sophisticated, which is expected to create demand for small engine mechanics who can fix and maintain them.
Getting in
How to become a Motorcycle Mechanic
Small engine mechanics typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award and learn their trade through on-the-job training.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as motorcycle mechanics.
- Post-Secondary Certificate59.6%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)25.7%
- Bachelor's Degree9.5%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4%
- First Professional Degree1.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 59.6% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 25.7% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 9.5% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 4% |
| First Professional Degree | 1.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Motorcycle Mechanic do?
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, or similar motorized vehicles.
Small engine mechanics inspect, service, and repair motorized power equipment. Mechanics often specialize in one type of equipment, such as motorcycles, motorboats, or outdoor power equipment.
Day-to-day tasks
- Replace defective parts, using hand tools, arbor presses, flexible power presses, or power tools.
- Dismantle engines and repair or replace defective parts, such as magnetos, carburetors, or generators.
- Listen to engines, examine vehicle frames, or confer with customers to determine nature and extent of malfunction or damage.
- Repair or replace other parts, such as headlights, horns, handlebar controls, gasoline or oil tanks, starters, or mufflers.
- Repair or adjust motorcycle subassemblies, such as forks, transmissions, brakes, or drive chains, according to specifications.
- Install motorcycle accessories.
- Mount, balance, change, or check condition or pressure of tires.
- Disassemble subassembly units and examine condition, movement, or alignment of parts, visually or using gauges.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most small engine mechanics work full time, although seasonal workers often see their work hours fluctuate.
Most mechanics are busiest during the spring and summer, when demand for work on equipment from lawnmowers to motorboats is the highest. During the peak seasons, some mechanics work many overtime hours. In contrast, some may work only part time during the winter, when demand for small engine work is lowest.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.1
- Speaking3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Reading Comprehension3.0
- Writing2.8
- Learning Strategies2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 |
| Writing | 2.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Troubleshooting3.9
- Repairing3.9
- Equipment Maintenance3.5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Operation and Control3.1
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Troubleshooting | 3.9 |
| Repairing | 3.9 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Operation and Control | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software
- Inventory management software
- Point of sale POS software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Motorcycle Mechanic?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Motorcycle Mechanic |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic7.0
- Conventional3.6
- Investigative3.1
- Social1.4
- Artistic1.2
- Enterprising1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Motorcycle Mechanic
O*NET related occupations
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic
$50,620median a year
Most earn $35K to $82K
+5.0%Certificate - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic
$47,880median a year
Most earn $35K to $67K
+2.3%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist
$61,770median a year
Most earn $45K to $89K
+3.6%High school - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic, Except Engines
$65,510median a year
Most earn $47K to $94K
+6.7%High school
More installation, maintenance, and repair careers
Median annual pay, with motorcycle mechanics highlighted
- Aircraft Mechanic$79,870
- Millwright$65,700
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,520
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$61,770
- Medical Equipment Repairer$61,660
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer$61,010
- Automotive Body and Related Repairer$54,890
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$50,620
- Motorcycle Mechanic$48,580
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanic | $79,870 |
| Millwright | $65,700 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $64,520 |
| Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist | $61,770 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $61,660 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanic and Installer | $61,010 |
| Automotive Body and Related Repairer | $54,890 |
| Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic | $50,620 |
| Motorcycle Mechanic | $48,580 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Motorcycle Mechanic appears on
Questions
Motorcycle Mechanic: frequently asked questions
How much do Motorcycle Mechanics make?
Motorcycle Mechanics earn a median of $48,580 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.35/hr. The middle half earn between $39,550 and $61,510. The top 10% earn $74,400 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Motorcycle Mechanic?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Motorcycle Mechanics. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 59.6% hold post-secondary certificate.
Is Motorcycle Mechanic a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.1% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Motorcycle Mechanic do?
Small engine mechanics inspect, service, and repair motorized power equipment. A core O*NET task: replace defective parts, using hand tools, arbor presses, flexible power presses, or power tools. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Operating system software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Motorcycle Mechanics the most?
The highest state medians for Motorcycle Mechanics are New Hampshire ($62,890), Nevada ($60,450), New Jersey ($59,430) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Nevada moves to the top at $60,463.
What personality type suits a Motorcycle Mechanic?
O*NET scores Motorcycle Mechanics highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.