Industrial Machinery Mechanics: Career Profile
Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Industrial Machinery Mechanics Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of industrial machinery mechanics include:
- Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.
- Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.
- Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery.
- Disassemble machinery or equipment to remove parts and make repairs.
- Reassemble equipment after completion of inspections, testing, or repairs.
- Examine parts for defects, such as breakage or excessive wear.
- Record repairs and maintenance performed.
- Operate newly repaired machinery or equipment to verify the adequacy of repairs.
What Industrial Machinery Mechanics Need to Know
Effective industrial machinery mechanics combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Industrial Machinery Mechanics Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Anode Rebuilder
- Appliance Fixer
- Appliance Mechanic
- Area Mechanic
- Assembly Mechanic
- Auto Equipment Maintenance Servicer (Automotive Equipment Maintenance Servicer)
- Automatic Pinsetter Adjuster
- Automotive Maintenance Equipment Servicer
Employment and Demand
There are about 74,714 industrial machinery mechanics working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +7.8% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Industrial Machinery Mechanics
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $31,702 |
| Hourly median | $15.24 |
| 10th percentile | $22,883 |
| 25th percentile | $27,292 |
| 75th percentile | $36,111 |
| 90th percentile | $40,521 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $86,590 |
| District of Columbia | $85,380 |
| Hawaii | $80,180 |
| Nevada | $75,490 |
| Washington | $75,220 |
| Wyoming | $74,510 |
| California | $73,840 |
| Colorado | $73,770 |
| Connecticut | $73,530 |
| New Jersey | $73,000 |
| Oregon | $71,430 |
| Massachusetts | $70,540 |
| Kansas | $70,170 |
| Montana | $69,880 |
| Utah | $69,670 |
| Minnesota | $68,160 |
| New York | $67,010 |
| Illinois | $66,770 |
| Indiana | $65,670 |
| Delaware | $65,560 |
| Maine | $65,190 |
| Iowa | $65,090 |
| North Dakota | $65,070 |
| Arizona | $64,840 |
| Wisconsin | $64,520 |
| Maryland | $64,080 |
| Kentucky | $64,060 |
| Rhode Island | $63,870 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,830 |
| Louisiana | $63,830 |
| Ohio | $63,650 |
| Nebraska | $63,130 |
| Michigan | $63,030 |
| Virginia | $62,940 |
| Tennessee | $62,830 |
| Idaho | $62,570 |
| Oklahoma | $62,530 |
| Vermont | $62,520 |
| Texas | $61,590 |
| West Virginia | $61,400 |
| New Hampshire | $61,360 |
| Missouri | $61,270 |
| South Carolina | $61,260 |
| North Carolina | $60,860 |
| Alabama | $60,390 |
| Florida | $60,340 |
| Georgia | $60,100 |
| South Dakota | $59,690 |
| New Mexico | $59,420 |
| Arkansas | $58,410 |
| Mississippi | $57,220 |
| Guam | $55,060 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,770 |
Where Industrial Machinery Mechanics Earn the Most
Compensation for industrial machinery mechanics differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $74,181 | 10.9% | 0.74 |
| Rocky Mountains | $71,205 | 3.5% | 1.12 |
| New England | $68,422 | 3.4% | 0.75 |
| Middle Atlantic | $66,756 | 10.5% | 0.81 |
| Plains States | $65,899 | 7.1% | 1.24 |
| Great Lakes | $64,470 | 19.0% | 1.54 |
| Southwest | $61,794 | 16.6% | 1.42 |
| Southeast | $61,160 | 28.2% | 1.47 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston, ID-WA | ID | $93,770 | 140 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $93,480 | 90 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | WV | $91,430 | 230 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | WA | $89,340 | 510 |
| Kokomo, IN | IN | $89,250 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $86,120 | 2,650 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $85,640 | 510 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $84,770 | 270 |
Top Industries Employing Industrial Machinery Mechanics
The bulk of industrial machinery mechanics work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 223,700 | $64,680 |
| Wholesale Trade | 62,970 | $62,340 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 52,870 | $60,290 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 18,570 | $64,230 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 10,160 | $76,030 |
| Utilities | 10,060 | $96,370 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 8,490 | $59,050 |
| Construction | 7,670 | $59,790 |
Below are examples of industries where industrial machinery mechanics work:
Tech Stack
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for industrial machinery mechanics is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
Education and Training
Most industrial machinery mechanics positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (Primary-Short)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Primary-Short)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (Primary-Long)
- Maintenance Workers, Machinery (Primary-Short)
- Millwrights (Primary-Long)
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers (Supplemental)
- Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for industrial machinery mechanics typically earn programs in:
Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians
4 programs across 2 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-9041.00 (Industrial Machinery Mechanics).