If you’re considering a career as a bicycle mechanic, you’re probably wondering, How much do bike mechanics make?
Here’s an overview of the average wages of bicycle mechanics in the US. and the factors that affect overall earnings.
The Average Bicycle Mechanic Salary
According to PayScale, the average bike mechanic pay nationally is $13.95 per hour or about $33,000 per year. A majority of these earnings are in the form of wages, while anywhere from $500-$5,000 can be from commissions.
Since many bike mechanics end up working in a bike shop, these commissions are most likely from selling specialty products.
The average calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is slightly different, with a mean hourly wage of $16.12. However, they also estimate those with salaries earning around $33,000.
Factors That Affect a Bike Mechanic Salary
While averages provide a general idea of what to expect, they don’t necessarily represent specific situations. So, how much do bike mechanics make if they are just starting out? What if they own their own shop or live in an area with lots of customers?
Here are some of the factors that affect bike mechanics’ hourly pay or even a bike shop owner’s salary.
Years of Experience
Generally, experienced mechanics or shop owners make a higher wage than entry-level bike mechanics. Based on seven salaries, PayScale calculates that entry-level mechanics earn about 19% less than the average, or $11.36 per hour.
However, mid or late-career mechanics can earn anywhere from 3-9% more than the average. This seems to coincide with the percentile wage estimates published by the BLS, where the lowest earners have an average hourly wage of $11.41.
Industry
Although more than 75% of bike mechanics work in a bike shop or other similar sporting stores, some work in other industries. Each industry has its own average pay, which may or may not differ from the national average.
According to the BLS, bike mechanics in sporting goods or bike stores make about $15.53 per hour or $32,310 per year. In contrast, those who work in bike rental make a little more. Although there are only about 450 workers in this industry, they make $18.27 per hour or $37,990 annually.
However, these aren’t even the highest earners among bike mechanics in the US. For those who work on personal repairs, such as custom jobs, the average wage is $20.73 per hour or $43,130 per year.
Location
In answering the question of how much do bike mechanics make, location is probably the most important factor. Although the BLS doesn’t have data for all states, areas where riding bicycles is popular tend to have more bike mechanics.
The five states with the most bike mechanics as of 2020 are:
- California
- Colorado
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
Some of these states are also the highest paying on average. For example, bike mechanics in California make the 2nd most in the country, with an average wage of $17.89 or a salary of $37,220. However, Wyoming is the state that pays the most, with bike mechanics averaging a salary of nearly $40,000.
Learn How to Become a Bike Mechanic with Our Course
Whether you have a passion for cycling or just want to work in a hands-on career, Stratford Career Institute has the course for you. If you want to learn how to assemble, tune, and repair bikes, enroll in our bicycle mechanic course today!
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Explore Stratford Career Institute’s bicycle mechanic course to see if it is right for you. With our course, you will learn how to assemble, tune, and repair bikes.