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Food and Beverage Manufacturing
PepsiCo, Tyson Foods, General Mills
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Industrial machinery mechanics keep production equipment running by finding the cause of breakdowns, taking machines apart, repairing worn parts, and testing everything after the fix. The job is distinct because it mixes hands-on mechanical work with diagnostics on computerized equipment, so the tradeoff is steady problem-solving against dirty, urgent, and sometimes physically demanding work when a line goes down.
Also known as Maintenance MechanicIndustrial Maintenance MechanicIndustrial Maintenance TechnicianMachine Repair MechanicMachinery Maintenance Technician
Median Salary
$63,760
Mean $67,160
U.S. Workforce
~422K
45.7K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+16.1%
439.6K to 510.3K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Industrial Machinery Mechanics sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~422K workers, with a median annual pay of $63,760 and roughly 45.7K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 439.6 K in 2024 to 510.3K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Post-Secondary Certificate, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Maintenance Helper / Apprentice and can progress toward Maintenance Supervisor / Reliability Lead. High-value skills usually include Equipment Maintenance, Operation and Control, and Operations Monitoring, paired with soft skills such as Attention to detail, Problem-solving, and Communication.
Core Responsibilities
- Inspect machines and their parts for wear, damage, or other signs that something is about to fail.
- Use test meters and other diagnostic tools to figure out why equipment is running badly or has stopped working.
- Take machinery apart so broken components can be repaired or replaced.
- Weld, cut, or fit metal parts when a repair requires making a new piece or rebuilding a damaged one.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Inspect machines and their parts for wear, damage, or other signs that something is about to fail.
02 Use test meters and other diagnostic tools to figure out why equipment is running badly or has stopped working.
03 Take machinery apart so broken components can be repaired or replaced.
04 Weld, cut, or fit metal parts when a repair requires making a new piece or rebuilding a damaged one.
05 Program or enter instructions into computer-controlled machines after repairs or adjustments.
06 Run the repaired equipment, then write down what was fixed and confirm the machine is working correctly.
Industries That Hire
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Automotive Manufacturing
Ford, General Motors, Toyota
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Aerospace and Defense
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, RTX
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Chemicals and Plastics
Dow, BASF, DuPont
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Paper, Packaging, and Wood Products
International Paper, Georgia-Pacific, Smurfit Westrock
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is solid for a trade role, with a median of $63,760 and mean pay of $67,160 without requiring a bachelor's degree.
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Job openings are steady, with about 45.7 thousand annual openings projected, so experienced mechanics are needed across many facilities.
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The work is varied because no two breakdowns are exactly alike, which keeps the job from becoming purely repetitive.
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The skills are practical and transferable, so experience with pumps, motors, conveyors, and controls can travel between plants and industries.
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Workers can build a long-term path into lead mechanic, reliability, or supervision roles after learning the equipment on the floor.
Challenges
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The job usually requires long-term on-the-job training, so it can take years before a new worker is fully trusted with major repairs.
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The work can be physically rough: heavy parts, grease, noise, hot equipment, and emergency call-ins are all common.
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Downtime pressure can make the pace stressful because a broken machine can stop an entire production line until the repair is done.
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Career growth can plateau if you stay purely in hands-on repair work; the higher-paying steps often require moving into supervision, reliability, or specialized controls work.
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Automation and more computerized equipment are changing the job, so mechanics who never learn PLCs, electronics, or diagnostic software may find fewer opportunities over time.
Career Progression
Maintenance Helper / Apprentice
0-2 years
$35K-$45K
Beginners clean, assist with repairs, carry tools, and learn the basics of plant equipment under close supervision.
Maintenance Technician
2-5 years
$46K-$58K
At this stage, workers handle routine fixes, basic diagnostics, and preventive maintenance on common machines.
Industrial Machinery Mechanic THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$59K-$75K
This is the core role, where mechanics troubleshoot breakdowns, repair complex equipment, and get production lines back online.
Senior / Lead Industrial Machinery Mechanic
10-15 years
$76K-$92K
Experienced mechanics take on the hardest failures, help train newer workers, and may coordinate work during shutdowns or emergencies.
Maintenance Supervisor / Reliability Lead
15+ years
$93K-$115K
Leaders schedule work, prioritize repairs, track equipment reliability, and manage crews or contractors across the facility.
Education Paths
Post-Secondary Certificate
The most common path, held by 47.22% of workers in the O*NET distribution, is a trade school or community college certificate focused on maintenance and repair.
High School Diploma or Equivalent
A common entry route for 39.09% of workers, usually paired with long-term on-the-job training from an employer.
Associate's Degree
A smaller path, used by 13.7% of workers in the O*NET distribution, especially for candidates who want more electronics, controls, or maintenance coursework.
Apprenticeship or Employer Training Program
Some employers hire mechanically inclined workers into apprenticeship-style training, especially when they are willing to train for long-term on-the-job learning instead of hiring an experienced mechanic.
Key Skills
Technical
Equipment Maintenance 75%
Operation and Control 75%
Operations Monitoring 75%
Repairing 75%
Troubleshooting 75%
Multimeters, Electrical Testing & Diagnostics 73%
Welding, Cutting & Metal Fabrication 72%
PLCs, HMIs & Computer-Controlled Machinery 72%
Hydraulic & Pneumatic Systems 71%
Quality Control Analysis 69%
Critical Thinking 66%
Active Learning 53%
Soft Skills
Attention to detailProblem-solvingCommunicationTeamworkSafety awarenessAdaptability Job Outlook and Trends
+16.1%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
45.7K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 439.6K to 510.3 K over the next decade, representing 16.1% growth. Around 45.7 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.