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Boston Career Explorer

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

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

Also called: Chainsaw Technician, Golf Cart Mechanic, Lawnmower Repair Mechanic, Mechanic, Outdoor Power Equipment Service Technician, Service Technician (Service Tech)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$59,880
$28.79/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
590
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+3.0%
40 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$49,920$49,930$59,880$62,400$79,440

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Record repairs made, time spent, and parts used.
  • Test and inspect engines to determine malfunctions, to locate missing and broken parts, and to verify repairs, using diagnostic instruments.
  • Dismantle engines, using hand tools, and examine parts for defects.
  • Repair and maintain gasoline engines used to power equipment such as portable saws, lawn mowers, generators, and compressors.
  • Adjust points, valves, carburetors, distributors, and spark plug gaps, using feeler gauges.
  • Repair or replace defective parts such as magnetos, water pumps, gears, pistons, and carburetors, using hand tools.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure21 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 20
  • Language-model AIOE 19
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 24

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

This job has lower AI exposure, with little or no observed AI use. AI tools could help with record-keeping and reading diagnostic results. Taking engines apart, checking parts, and making fine adjustments with gauges are done by hand.

Likely to change

  • Recording repairs, time, and parts used
  • Reading diagnostic readings from engines

Still relies on people

  • Dismantling engines and examining parts
  • Adjusting carburetors and spark plug gaps

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

    Engine repair and hand tool skills carry over to larger diesel engines. Boston pay is $75,770, with long-term on-the-job training.

    Pay difference
    +$15,890 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

    Replacing worn parts and testing repairs match your work. It pays $76,770 and needs a high school diploma.

    Pay difference
    +$16,890 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.9%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Industrial Machinery Mechanics

    Fixing and replacing parts on machines builds on your repair skills. It pays $75,200, with 17.1% projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$15,320 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +17.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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