Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Pay and outlook

Median annual wage, May 2025

$64,520

Half earn more, half earn less

Middle half earn

$55,010 – $78,780

25th to 75th percentile

People employed, May 2025

439,640

Wage and salary jobs (OEWS)

Projected change, 2025–35

+17.8%

Growing at twice the all-jobs rate or more (7%+)

Openings a year (projected)

44,400

New jobs plus replacing people who leave

Typical education to enter

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS

• All figures are for the United States as a whole. Pay varies a lot by state and city.
• Wages are for everyone working in the occupation in May 2025, at every career stage. They are not starting salaries or figures for new graduates.
• Growth and openings are BLS projections for 2025–35. They are estimates, not promises. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or change occupation, not just new jobs.

What the work involves

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.

Main tasks

• 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.

Description and tasks from the O*NET® 31.0 Database.

Getting in

Typical education to enter (BLS)

High school diploma or equivalent

Training once hired: long-term on-the-job training

O*NET Job Zone 3

Medium preparation

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Fields of study that lead here

From the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk, which links 4 programmes to this occupation. A link means the programme prepares people for this kind of work. It doesn't mean the programme is required, or that it's the only route.

Related careers

Related occupations from the O*NET database, in its order.

• Maintenance Workers, Machinery

  $60,850 median · -1.9% projected

• Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

  $56,210 median · +4.4% projected

• Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

  $47,180 median · +0.6% projected

• Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

  $65,510 median · +6.7% projected

• Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

  $53,710 median · -17% projected

• Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

  $52,800 median · -13.2% projected