According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average small engine mechanic salary nationally is $45,870. This is the most recent data and includes mechanics from every industry working on all types of small engines.
Additionally, the median annual salary is around $44,080, which is right around the national average. This means that one-half of all employed small engine mechanics make more than this number, and the other half make less.
While these numbers may be helpful, it’s important to know that not all small engine mechanic jobs are salary-based. There are also a variety of factors that influence pay.
How Much Does a Small Engine Mechanic Make Per Hour?
For all industries, the average small engine mechanic hourly pay is $22.05. This equates to around $882 per week for full-time positions with a 40-hour work week. This is lower than the national average for all jobs, which is $29.76.
Factors That Affect Pay
Although it’s easy to come to conclusions after looking at national data, there are several factors that affect a salary or hourly wage. This includes things like the industry you work in, your location, and your level of experience. Thankfully, there is a lot of data on these factors as well.
Job Category
The BLS divides small engine mechanics into three categories: outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, and motorboat mechanics. These categories have not only different pay but different demand throughout the US.
For example, motorboat mechanics make the most out of the three groups, with an average salary of $50,280. Meanwhile, outdoor power equipment engine mechanics make less than the average for all small engine mechanics, at around $42,590.
Part of this difference might be due to the level of employment in each category. While there are more than 35,000 small engine mechanics working with outdoor power equipment, there are only around 15,000 working on motorcycles and 25,000 working on boats.
Industry
The industry you work in also plays a crucial role in determining pay. For the sake of simplicity, let’s just take a look at the motorboat mechanic category for now. According to the BLS data previously cited, there are several industries that hire mechanics in this category.
Most, around 38%, work for motorboat dealers and make an average of $47,510. This is higher than the average small engine mechanic salary nationwide, but lower than the average for other mechanics. However, there are other industries that pay more.
For example, there are approximately 2,500 small engine mechanics employed with a ship or boat builder who make $52,170 on average. That is nearly $2,000 higher than the average for all boat mechanics. And there are some specialty industries that pay even more.
For example, the inland water transportation industry, which includes things like ferries, pays upwards of $74,450 on average to small engine mechanics. This is not only higher than the average for the job itself but also higher than the national average for all occupations.
Location
Where you work also plays a big role in the amount of pay you receive. Generally, there are a few reasons certain locations pay more, from scarcity to higher cost of living. A good example is motorboat mechanics. While the level of employment is highest along the coastlines, some higher wages are found in places like Colorado, Kentucky, and Nevada.
That being said, the highest salaries are in places like Hawaii, New Jersey, and Massachusetts—places near or surrounded by the ocean. Motorboat mechanics in Massachusetts make the most on average, around $60,270. This is just one example of how your small engine mechanic salary may differ based on location.
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