Bicycle Repairers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair · SOC 49-3091 · O*NET 49-3091.00

Median salary
$40,360
Rank #683 of ~830 BLS occupations
10-year growth
-2.3%
2024–2034, declining
Employment
12.6M
BLS 2024
Projected 2034
12K
BLS projection
Official O*NET description

Repair and service bicycles.

Bicycle Repairers fall under the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category in the U.S. occupational classification. Bicycle Repairers earn a median salary of $40,360 per year, ranking in the top 84% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -2.3% job growth through 2034, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Entry into this field typically requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do bicycle repairers earn?

The median annual wage for bicycle repairers is $40,360. That puts bicycle repairers at #683 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. This salary is around or below the U.S. median for individual workers, so career growth often depends on advancement into supervisory roles, specialization, or additional credentials. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Full salary distribution (national, BLS 2024)
10th percentile (entry-level)$30,640
25th percentile$35,880
50th percentile (median)$40,360
75th percentile$47,560
90th percentile (top earners)$52,130
Median hourly wage$19.40/hr

Is bicycle repairers a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for bicycle repairers is -2.3%, projected to lose jobs through 2034. Employment is projected to move from approximately 13K positions in 2024 to 12K in 2034, a net change of -1K. A declining outlook does not mean the field is disappearing; it means automation, demographics, or substitution effects are shrinking the pool of openings. Students entering a declining field should plan for adjacent skills that transfer to growing roles.

What do bicycle repairers do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working bicycle repairers, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

  1. 1.Order bicycle parts.
  2. 2.Install and adjust brakes and brake pads.
  3. 3.Align wheels.
  4. 4.Assemble new bicycles.
  5. 5.Install new tires and tubes.
  6. 6.Disassemble axles to repair, adjust, and replace defective parts, using hand tools.
  7. 7.Install, repair, and replace equipment or accessories, such as handlebars, stands, lights, and seats.
  8. 8.Clean and lubricate bicycle parts.

Top skills for bicycle repairers

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

Repairing
3.9
Critical Thinking
3.6
Active Listening
3.6
Troubleshooting
3.6
Equipment Selection
3.4
Equipment Maintenance
3.4
Service Orientation
3.4

What education does my child need to become bicycle repairer?

Bicycle Repairers typically enter the field through a formal apprenticeship, technical certification, or vocational training program — a strong fit for teens who prefer hands-on learning over traditional college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Actual education levels of working bicycle repairers

Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.

Less than high school
50.8%
High school diploma
30.0%
Some college courses
17.7%
Post-secondary certificate
1.6%

Related careers your child might also consider

How parents help teens explore careers like this

Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.

Common questions parents ask about bicycle repairers

What is the median salary for bicycle repairers?

The median annual salary for bicycle repairers is $40,360 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Is bicycle repairers a growing career?

BLS projects -2.3% growth for bicycle repairers from 2024 through 2034, which is declining growth projected to lose jobs through 2034.

What education does my child need to become bicycle repairer?

The typical entry path requires an apprenticeship, technical certification, or postsecondary training, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.

What careers are similar to bicycle repairers?

Related occupations within the Installation, Maintenance, and Repair category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.

Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.