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Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers vs Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics: what changes?

Consider Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers if you want to help installation, maintenance, and repair workers in maintenance, parts replacement, and repair of vehicles, industrial machinery, and electrical and electronic equipment. 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. Both list high school diploma or equivalent; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers 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
What this means in practice

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Start with earnings, the route into the job, training, available openings, and a day-to-day reality.

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

National median pay (2025)
$39,630
Route into the job
High school diploma or equivalent; 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
Install or replace machinery, equipment, and new or replacement parts and instruments, using hand or power tools.
Annual openings (2025–2035)
13,600
Know before you choose

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

See the full Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers 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
See scores, detailed data, and how the comparison works

How the national numbers differ

1

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers has the edge on annual openings

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers is at 13,600 annual openings, compared with 3,800 annual openings for Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics.

2

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers has the edge on projected growth

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers is at 5.3% projected growth, compared with 2.3% projected growth for Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics.

3

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics has the edge on median pay

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics is at $47,880, compared with $39,630 for Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers.

55/ 100

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers

vs
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

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers vs Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

DimensionHelpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersOutdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
Median pay (2025)$39,630$47,880
Pay percentile11.2 percentile26 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)5.3%2.3%
Annual openings (2025–2035)13,6003,800
2025 employment97,10038,300
How you qualifyHigh school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensingHigh 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 groupJob Zone 2Job Zone 2
Related work experienceNo prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
On-the-job trainingOne 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 Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers briefRead Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics brief

Try another comparison

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers vs Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
$39,630 · 5.3% growth
Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers
$45,990 · 5.8% growth
Compare careers →

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers vs Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
$39,630 · 5.3% growth
Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
$47,630 · 5.7% growth
Compare careers →

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics vs Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Compare pay, growth, education, and the tradeoffs that affect the decision.

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
$47,880 · 2.3% growth
Automotive Body and Related Repairers
$54,890 · 3.7% growth
Compare careers →
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