Motorcycle Mechanics: Job Description
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, or similar motorized vehicles.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Motorcycle Mechanics Perform?
The core tasks performed by motorcycle mechanics span:
- Mount, balance, change, or check condition or pressure of tires.
- 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.
- Connect test panels to engines and measure generator output, ignition timing, or other engine performance indicators.
- 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.
- Disassemble subassembly units and examine condition, movement, or alignment of parts, visually or using gauges.
- Repair or adjust motorcycle subassemblies, such as forks, transmissions, brakes, or drive chains, according to specifications.
What Motorcycle Mechanics Need to Know
Top motorcycle mechanics combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- All Terrain Vehicle Technician (ATV Technician)
- Bike Builder
- Bike Technician
- Custom Bike Builder
- Dirt Bike Mechanic
- Frame Repairer
- Frame Straightener
- Lube Technician
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 490,735 motorcycle mechanics working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -0.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Motorcycle Mechanics Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $83,695 |
| Hourly median | $40.24 |
| 10th percentile | $48,353 |
| 25th percentile | $66,024 |
| 75th percentile | $101,366 |
| 90th percentile | $119,037 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Motorcycle Mechanics Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $59,440 |
| California | $58,620 |
| New Jersey | $54,760 |
| South Carolina | $53,900 |
| Massachusetts | $52,590 |
| New Hampshire | $52,080 |
| Maryland | $51,690 |
| Nevada | $51,160 |
| Oregon | $50,980 |
| Wisconsin | $50,270 |
| Wyoming | $50,020 |
| Minnesota | $49,770 |
| Colorado | $49,360 |
| Nebraska | $48,970 |
| Virginia | $48,410 |
| New York | $48,280 |
| Alaska | $47,600 |
| Kansas | $47,480 |
| Kentucky | $47,430 |
| Vermont | $47,370 |
| Washington | $47,260 |
| Florida | $47,200 |
| South Dakota | $47,110 |
| Tennessee | $46,830 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,780 |
| Texas | $46,670 |
| Missouri | $46,540 |
| Maine | $46,460 |
| Arkansas | $45,590 |
| Oklahoma | $45,240 |
| Montana | $44,840 |
| Michigan | $44,520 |
| Iowa | $44,370 |
| Rhode Island | $44,160 |
| Indiana | $43,920 |
| Georgia | $43,700 |
| Arizona | $43,640 |
| Alabama | $43,270 |
| Connecticut | $43,250 |
| Louisiana | $43,170 |
| Utah | $42,120 |
| North Carolina | $41,940 |
| Ohio | $41,460 |
| Illinois | $39,620 |
| Idaho | $38,840 |
| West Virginia | $38,630 |
| New Mexico | $35,080 |
| Mississippi | $32,570 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for motorcycle mechanics vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $54,673 | 18.5% | 1.36 |
| Middle Atlantic | $49,388 | 8.3% | 0.63 |
| Plains States | $48,710 | 10.2% | 2.32 |
| New England | $47,041 | 2.8% | 1.44 |
| Rocky Mountains | $45,729 | 8.8% | 2.40 |
| Southwest | $44,996 | 12.6% | 1.19 |
| Southeast | $44,668 | 24.8% | 1.17 |
| Great Lakes | $43,987 | 14.0% | 1.15 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | CA | $64,820 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $61,820 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $60,320 | 220 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | ND | $59,440 | 40 |
| Bismarck, ND | ND | $59,330 | 60 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | MN | $58,870 | 220 |
| Bend, OR | OR | $58,620 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $58,100 | 80 |
Which Industries Hire Motorcycle Mechanics
The bulk of motorcycle mechanics are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 11,710 | $47,330 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,790 | $46,780 |
| Manufacturing | 310 | $36,630 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 110 | $44,330 |
| Wholesale Trade | 50 | $52,860 |
Motorcycle Mechanics work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Operating system software: Apple iOS (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for motorcycle mechanics is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Spend Time Standing
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
Education and Training
Typical motorcycle mechanics positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Avionics Technicians (Supplemental)
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Primary-Long)
- Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles (Supplemental)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (Supplemental)
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers (Supplemental)
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (Primary-Short)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Primary-Short)
- Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future motorcycle mechanics commonly pursue programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-3052.00 (Motorcycle Mechanics).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.