Small Engine Mechanic
Everything OPM FedScope (June 2026) reports about the Small Engine Mechanic occupation series (code 8610): headcount, average salary, length of service, and pay comparison.
The verdict
In the Engine Overhaul Family family, Small Engine Mechanic counts 34 employees, a smaller, specialized federal occupation at 0.0% of the federal civilian workforce, and headcount grew 3.0% from the prior period; pay averages $71,351, which pays below the federal-wide $117,339.
- Employees
- 34
- Share of workforce
- 0.0%
- Avg salary
- $71,351
- Avg tenure
- 18.3 yrs
FedScope read on Small Engine Mechanic (thin series)
0.0% of the federal civilian workforce (1,953,300 employees total, June 2026) works in the Small Engine Mechanic occupation (OPM code 8610): 34 people, headcount up 3.0% versus the prior period, though at this small a headcount, year-to-year swings can reflect a handful of hires or departures rather than a broad hiring trend.
The average salary for Small Engine Mechanic is $71,351 per year. Salaries moved down by -0.5% from the prior period, a modest shift, consistent with routine locality pay and grade-level movement. Average length of service in this role is 18.3 years, a long average tenure, typical of career federal roles where employees stay through much of a full career before retirement.
Small Engine Mechanic sits inside the Engine Overhaul Family family (code 86), which contains 3 related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Small Engine Mechanic postings should also review these sibling occupations in the Engine Overhaul Family family.
Small Engine Mechanic makes up 1.9% of the 1,764 employees across the Engine Overhaul Family family, ranking #3 of 3 occupations in that family by headcount.
Salary context · lean-pay series
How Small Engine Mechanic pay compares to the federal average of $117,339
Occupation Average
$71,351
Federal Average
$117,339
vs. Federal Avg
-39.2%
Where Small Engine Mechanic ranks on lean federal pay
Its average salary of $71,351 is higher than 28% of federal occupation series (150 of 541). The highlighted bar marks where Small Engine Mechanic sits in the federal pay distribution.
Average-salary distribution across all 541 federal occupation series; Small Engine Mechanic ranks higher than 28%.
Related Occupations in Engine Overhaul Family
2 other occupations in the same family
| Occupation | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Engine Mechanic | 1,686 | $92,060 | 12.2 yrs |
| Miscellaneous Engine Overhaul | 44 | $62,714 | 22.9 yrs |
Nationwide peers near this thin headcount
Two peer sets for Small Engine Mechanic outside the Engine Overhaul Family family, on headcount and average salary axes that vary across all OPM occupation series.
Similar thin headcount
Nearest employee counts in other occupation families (34 here).
Similar lean average salary
Nearest average salaries in other occupation families ($71,351 here).
Key takeaways
- Small Engine Mechanic pays below the federal average by 39.2% ($71,351 vs $117,339 federal-wide), at the 28th percentile for pay among 541 tracked occupation series.
- A smaller, specialized federal occupation by headcount: 34 employees, 0.0% of the federal civilian workforce, and headcount grew 3.0% from the prior period.
- According to OPM FedScope June 2026, Small Engine Mechanic ranks #571 of 663 federal occupation series by headcount (the same employee_count ordering as our occupations directory).
- Small Engine Mechanic makes up 1.9% of the 1,764 employees across the Engine Overhaul Family family, ranking #3 of 3 occupations in that family by headcount.
OPM FedScope and Federal Workforce Data figures are federal civilian headcounts, average salaries, and length-of-service statistics - not job-quality scores, hiring advice, or a live vacancy listing. A larger or higher-paid agency is not a better employer.