Industrial Machinery Mechanics
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.
What it pays
Industrial Machinery Mechanics earn a median of $31.02/hr — about $64,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $22.17/hr; the top 10% earn $45.76/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Industrial Machinery Mechanics earn a median of $31.02/hr — about $64,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $22.17/hr; the top 10% earn $45.76/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 1.7% of industrial machinery mechanics are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
- Millwrights
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
Quick questions
- How much does a industrial machinery mechanic make?
- The median pay is $31.02 per hour — roughly $64,500 a year, with the real range running from about $22.17/hr (10th percentile) to $45.76/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a industrial machinery mechanic?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: medium preparation (Job Zone 3 of 5).
- What does a industrial machinery mechanic actually do all day?
- 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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.