Your work. Your records.
Small Engine Mechanic Workplace Records Guide
Small engine repair work can move from diagnosis to disassembly, replacement and testing as the fault becomes clearer. An employment timeline should show which work was authorized and when new findings changed the original repair expectation.
Call now(800) 800-5555Free initial case evaluation. Representation depends on work state and case eligibility. This guide explains record preparation; it does not determine whether a legal claim exists.
A record map for your role
What to organize first
Scope approval
Note when the assignment expanded and who approved additional repair work.
Time record
Compare your own recorded repair time with the work stages and waiting periods you observed.
Verification step
Record when testing was completed and who reviewed or accepted the repaired equipment.
Start with the work you actually do
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment.
O*NET classifies this occupation as Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics (49-3053.00). Its description covers a typical occupation, not every workplace or individual job. It does not establish employee status, overtime eligibility or employer misconduct.
- Record repairs made, time spent, and parts used.Source task 13777 · updated 08/2018
- Test and inspect engines to determine malfunctions, to locate missing and broken parts, and to verify repairs, using diagnostic instruments.Source task 13780 · updated 08/2018
- Dismantle engines, using hand tools, and examine parts for defects.Source task 13784 · updated 08/2018
- Repair and maintain gasoline engines used to power equipment such as portable saws, lawn mowers, generators, and compressors.Source task 13774 · updated 08/2018
A reference point for your pay records
May 2025 wage estimates by state
Compare your pay records with published BLS estimates for Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics (SOC 49-3053). These describe an occupation across employers. They are not a required pay rate, an overtime calculation, or evidence of discrimination or unpaid wages.
Select your work state to see its published pay range. No personal pay information is requested or sent.
The 25th and 75th percentiles mark the middle half of the estimated wage distribution; the median is its midpoint. Actual pay can differ with experience, employer, location and duties. Hourly and annual figures are shown as published, without converting one into the other.
All published state estimates for this occupation
| State | Hourly 25th | Hourly median | Hourly 75th | Annual median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $17.31 | $20.73 | $24.56 | $43,110 |
| Alaska | $23.47 | $28.94 | $31.39 | $60,190 |
| Arizona | $17.84 | $22.39 | $25.28 | $46,580 |
| Arkansas | $16.28 | $18.08 | $22.52 | $37,610 |
| Connecticut | $24.23 | $27.25 | $32.00 | $56,680 |
| Delaware | $22.10 | $26.07 | $29.49 | $54,230 |
| Florida | $19.73 | $23.00 | $27.73 | $47,840 |
| Georgia | $18.01 | $22.77 | $27.18 | $47,360 |
| Hawaii | $22.67 | $27.94 | $31.10 | $58,110 |
| Idaho | $22.80 | $26.59 | $29.81 | $55,320 |
| Indiana | $17.82 | $22.72 | $24.69 | $47,260 |
| Iowa | $18.17 | $22.03 | $26.00 | $45,830 |
| Kansas | $18.49 | $22.38 | $24.59 | $46,540 |
| Kentucky | $18.68 | $20.72 | $24.04 | $43,110 |
| Louisiana | $17.91 | $20.77 | $24.55 | $43,200 |
| Maine | $20.28 | $23.06 | $29.03 | $47,960 |
| Michigan | $20.02 | $22.47 | $26.63 | $46,730 |
| Minnesota | $23.45 | $26.92 | $30.13 | $55,990 |
| Mississippi | $17.20 | $18.22 | $21.32 | $37,900 |
| Missouri | $22.11 | $26.50 | $28.84 | $55,120 |
| Montana | $18.81 | $23.02 | $27.28 | $47,880 |
| Nebraska | $19.84 | $23.90 | $28.02 | $49,710 |
| New Hampshire | $24.00 | $27.70 | $31.47 | $57,610 |
| New Mexico | $18.55 | $20.44 | $23.69 | $42,520 |
| New York | $21.80 | $24.35 | $28.67 | $50,640 |
| North Carolina | $18.05 | $22.77 | $28.20 | $47,370 |
| North Dakota | $21.52 | $24.30 | $26.47 | $50,540 |
| Ohio | $17.40 | $22.17 | $26.44 | $46,110 |
| Oklahoma | $15.72 | $20.50 | $27.41 | $42,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $18.89 | $22.24 | $27.62 | $46,270 |
| Rhode Island | $23.42 | $25.08 | $32.48 | $52,160 |
| South Dakota | $18.60 | $19.99 | $22.90 | $41,580 |
| Tennessee | $18.32 | $22.15 | $24.73 | $46,060 |
| Texas | $19.59 | $21.98 | $24.83 | $45,720 |
| Utah | $18.81 | $24.44 | $31.80 | $50,840 |
| Vermont | $21.52 | $24.64 | $27.89 | $51,250 |
| Virginia | $20.38 | $22.83 | $28.57 | $47,480 |
| West Virginia | $15.00 | $18.85 | $22.43 | $39,210 |
| Wisconsin | $21.45 | $23.14 | $28.97 | $48,140 |
“Not published” preserves unavailable or suppressed source cells. “Above reporting limit” preserves a top-coded source value without inventing a number. A missing state estimate does not establish service eligibility. The data describe wage and salary employment; they do not measure self-employment income.
Source: BLS May 2025 state workbook · OEWS tables · BLS technical notes. Use your own schedule, pay statement and compensation terms to identify the question you want reviewed.
Trace the repair scope
Record the equipment category, reported problem and initial assignment. Note when inspection revealed additional work and who authorized it. Keep an initial estimate separate from later work requested after dismantling or testing.
Describe parts and verification
Record missing parts, diagnostic equipment availability and test work assigned before completion. If the repair was returned, note the stated reason and the condition you actually observed. Do not infer that every later fault resulted from the earlier repair.
Limit customer information
Retain your own work-time records and permitted employment messages. Do not copy customer identities, equipment histories or payment details. Identify where the official repair and parts records are held for an authorized reviewer.
Choose your next step
Review the workplace retaliation guide, unpaid wages guide, or discrimination guide if those concerns fit your experience. A job title alone does not establish a claim.
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