Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers vs Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics: Similar Pay, -3% vs 2.3% Growth

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers vs Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics: what changes?

Consider Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers if you want to repair, maintain, or install computers, word processing systems, automated teller machines, and electronic office machines, such as duplicating and fax machines. Consider Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics if you would rather diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment. Entry credentials differ: Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers, some college, no degree; Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics, high school diploma or equivalent.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers and Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers

National median pay (2025): $47,810
Route into the job: Some college, no degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Reassemble machines after making repairs or replacing parts.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 6,100

Know before you choose

BLS projects employment to shrink 3% from 2025 to 2035. Openings can still occur when existing workers leave.

See the full Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers brief

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

National median pay (2025): $47,880
Route into the job: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.
Work to investigate: Record repairs made, time spent, and parts used.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 3,800

Know before you choose

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

See the full Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics brief

How the national numbers differ

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics has the edge on projected growth

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics is at 2.3% projected growth, compared with -3% projected growth for Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers.

Typical preparation differs.

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers: Some college, no degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics: High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers has the edge on annual openings

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers is at 6,100 annual openings, compared with 3,800 annual openings for Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics.

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Compare actual offers, expected paid hours, schedule, and benefits before treating either career as the higher-paying option.

36.3/ 100

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers

44.6/ 100

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers vs Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Dimension	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers	Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
Median pay (2025)	$47,810	$47,880
Pay percentile	25.9 percentile	26 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	-3%	2.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	6,100	3,800
2025 employment	72,100	38,300
How you qualify	Some college, no degree; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing	High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.	No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job training	One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.	More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers brief Read Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics brief

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers vs Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

How the national numbers differ

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics has the edge on projected growth

Typical preparation differs.

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers has the edge on annual openings

National pay benchmarks are very similar.

Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers vs Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

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