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Outdoor power & powersports
Small Engine Mechanic
A garage, a bench, and equipment nobody else will fix.
Typical pay
$34k-$68k
How you get in
On the job or a 1-year program
Outlook
Steady; powersports and marine are the better-paid niches
Small engine mechanics repair mowers, generators, chainsaws, ATVs and marine engines. It is one of the easiest trades to start independently — the tooling is affordable and a home shop is genuinely viable.
A day in the life
- 8:00aCheck in equipment and diagnose the queue
- 9:00aCarburetor rebuild on a mower that sat all winter
- 11:00aReplace a starter and test a charging system
- 12:30pLunch
- 1:00pBlade sharpening and deck repair
- 3:00pOrder parts, call customers with estimates
How to get in
Shop apprentice
Duration
6-18 months
Cost
$0 — paid from day one
Credential
Manufacturer certifications
- Get hired at a dealer or repair shop doing setup and basic service
- Learn two-stroke and four-stroke fundamentals
- Get manufacturer certified for the brands the shop carries
- Move toward powersports or marine, which pay better than lawn equipment
Technical program
Duration
9-12 months
Cost
$3,000-$18,000
Credential
Certificate in small engine or powersports technology
- Complete a small engine or powersports technology program
- Learn electrical diagnosis, fuel systems and EFI
- Enter a dealership above helper level
- Marine and motorcycle dealers pay the highest rates
Home shop business
Duration
1-3 years of experience
Cost
$3,000-$20,000 for tools and space
Credential
Business license and insurance
- Learn the work at a shop first
- Set up a garage or outbuilding with the right tooling
- Offer pickup and delivery — it is the differentiator for homeowners
- Winter is the time to do snowblowers and stockpile spring tune-ups
What people love
- · Very low startup cost for your own shop
- · Learn on the job with no schooling required
- · Powersports and marine work pays notably more
- · Seasonal peaks are predictable and plannable
What wears people down
- · Highly seasonal in northern climates
- · Customers compare repair cost to a new machine
- · Parts availability delays jobs
- · Fuel, exhaust and noise exposure