Installation, maintenance and repair
Motorcycle mechanic
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, or similar motorized vehicles.
Median pay
$48,580
Growth to 2035
+2%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
1,400
Time to qualify*
13 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Motorcycle mechanic
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Motorcycle mechanic: 53% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: All Terrain Vehicle Technician (ATV Technician) · Custom Bike Builder · Motorcycle Mechanic · Motorcycle Service Technician · Motorcycle Technician · Motorsports Technician · Scooter Mechanic · Service Technician
Outlook and AI
Motorcycle mechanics held 14,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 14,500 by 2035 (+2%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Bicycle repairer
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Auto mechanic
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Rail car repairer
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Tire repairers and changers
- Motorcycle mechanic vs. Engine and other machine assemblers