Motorcycle Mechanics
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, or similar motorized vehicles.
Also called: All Terrain Vehicle Technician (ATV Technician) · Custom Bike Builder · Motorcycle Mechanic · Motorcycle Service Technician · Motorcycle Technician · Motorsports Technician
Median pay (national)
$47,200
$31,770–$70,210 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
14,010
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+5.3%
~1,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
Postsecondary nondegree award
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for motorcycle mechanics shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $70,210 versus $31,770 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $47,200 leaves roughly 49% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +5.3% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 1,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 48 states with released data, North Dakota pays the most for this role (median $59,440, +26% vs the national median), while Mississippi sits lowest at $32,570 — a 82% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Dismantle engines and repair or replace defective parts, such as magnetos, carburetors, or generators.
- Listen to engines, examine vehicle frames, or confer with customers to determine nature and extent of malfunction or damage.
- Repair or adjust motorcycle subassemblies, such as forks, transmissions, brakes, or drive chains, according to specifications.
- Remove cylinder heads and grind valves to scrape off carbon and replace defective valves, pistons, cylinders, or rings, using hand and power tools.
- Install motorcycle accessories.
- Mount, balance, change, or check condition or pressure of tires.
- Replace defective parts, using hand tools, arbor presses, flexible power presses, or power tools.
- Connect test panels to engines and measure generator output, ignition timing, or other engine performance indicators.
- 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.
Tools & technology
- Apple iOS
- AbbottSoft QuickFix
- DealerTrax ShopOrder
- Inventory tracking software
- LightSpeed Cloud
- Santa Maria Software Counterman Pro
- TRACKUM Repair Manager
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Sales and Marketing
- Engineering and Technology