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Bike mechanic: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$42,780median pay per year, or $20.57 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $31,220lowest 10% earn less
  2. $36,36025th percentile
  3. $42,780median
  4. $48,02075th percentile
  5. $55,000top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Bike mechanics are counted by BLS as bicycle repairers. Their median pay was $42,780 a year, and employment is projected to fall 5.7% from 2025 to 2035[1][2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.7%[2]
Openings per year
1,200[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do bike mechanics make?

The median wage for bicycle repairers was $42,780 a year, or $20.57 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $42,730 a year, or $20.55 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31,220 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $55,000[3][8].

Level Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][9] $31,220 $15.01
25th percentile[3][9] $36,360 $17.48
Median[1] $42,780 $20.57
75th percentile[3][9] $48,020 $23.09
90th percentile[3][9] $55,000 $26.44

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out self-employed workers, bonuses and benefits[10]. BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].

Pay by state and city

Arizona had the highest state median, at $53,970 a year[11]. New Jersey followed at $49,260, then Wyoming at $49,030[11]. Georgia had the lowest listed median, at $30,870[11].

California had the most jobs, with 1,710[12]. New York had 970, Colorado 730 and Illinois 660[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, New York-Newark-Jersey City had the highest median, at $52,150[13]. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue was next at $51,550[13]. The New York area also had the most jobs, at 760[14].

Show median pay in 40 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Arizona[11]$53,970610
New Jersey$49,260240
Wyoming$49,03060
Washington$48,220430
New York$47,750970
Colorado$47,620730
District of Columbia$46,860n/a
Maine$46,20070
Connecticut$45,630330
Oregon$45,600570
California$45,1201,710
Maryland$44,55070
Wisconsin$43,710240
Utah$43,100230
Alaska$42,330n/a
West Virginia$41,96040
Florida$41,630510
Massachusetts$41,600280
Pennsylvania$39,890320
Michigan$38,910580
Missouri$38,170180
Montana$37,99070
Texas$37,690390
Illinois$37,560660
Idaho$37,550260
North Carolina$36,500210
Virginia$36,420190
Rhode Island$36,400100
Delaware$35,65030
South Carolina$35,530n/a
Kansas$35,360n/a
Nevada$35,290280
Minnesota$35,210180
Oklahoma$34,65060
Tennessee$34,640n/a
North Dakota$34,440100
Iowa$34,240230
Ohio$33,640140
Indiana$33,010140
South Dakota$31,50080
Georgia$30,870170

How to become a bike mechanic

BLS describes the typical path into this occupation like this[6]:

O*NET places the job in a group where some jobs need little or no experience and others need several months to a year[15]. The facts here do not name any license or exam.

What bike mechanics do

O*NET describes the work as repairing and servicing bicycles[16]. Typical tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as bicycle technician, bicycle fitter and bike mechanic[18].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of bicycle repairers to decline 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 12,200 to 11,500 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[19]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. In 2025, 2.5% of bicycle repairers were self-employed[20].

Even so, about 1,200 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs created when people retire or switch occupations, as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 5% of workers leave the labor force and 5.9% move to a different occupation[21].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a median pay below the all-occupation median[1][4] and a path that starts with a high school diploma and on-the-job training[6]. Employment is projected to shrink while the all-occupation rate grows[2][19]. Openings still arise each year[5]. Pay differs by state and across the pay range[3][11], so local numbers matter.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[22].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bike mechanic make an hour?
The median was $20.57 an hour and the average was $20.55 in May 2025[1][7].
What education do you need to be a bike mechanic?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
Is bike mechanic work in demand?
BLS projects a 5.7% decline from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all occupations, but about 1,200 openings a year[2][19][5].
What is the highest paying state for bike mechanics?
Arizona had the highest median, $53,970 a year, then New Jersey at $49,260[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Bicycle Repairers in the US was $42,780 per year and $20.57 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Bicycle Repairers is projected to decline 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 12,200 to 11,500 jobs (a change of -700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Bicycle Repairers: 10th percentile $31,220, 25th percentile $36,360, 75th percentile $48,020, 90th percentile $55,000. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,200 openings for Bicycle Repairers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Bicycle Repairers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Bicycle Repairers was $42,730 per year and $20.55 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Bicycle Repairers: 10th percentile $15.01, 25th percentile $17.48, 75th percentile $23.09, 90th percentile $26.44. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Bicycle Repairers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Bicycle Repairers jobs: California 1,710; New York 970; Colorado 730; Illinois 660; Arizona 610. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Bicycle Repairers (areas with at least 100 jobs): New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $52,150; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $51,550; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $48,300; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $47,930; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $47,860; Bend, OR $47,340; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $46,860; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $46,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Bicycle Repairers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 760 (median $52,150); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 560 (median $44,780); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 470 (median $38,250); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 330 (median $47,860); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 320 (median $48,300); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 250 (median $47,930). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. O*NET 49-3091.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  16. O*NET description of Bicycle Repairers. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET task list for Bicycle Repairers. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET 49-3091.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bicycle Fitter, Bicycle Mechanic, Bicycle Repair Technician, Bicycle Repairman, Bicycle Service Technician, Bicycle Technician (Bicycle Tech), Bike Mechanic. O*NET OnLine
  19. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  20. BLS Employment Projections: 2.5% of Bicycle Repairers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Bicycle Repairers: 5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  22. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.