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Industrial machinery mechanic: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$64,520median pay per year, or $31.02 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $46,120lowest 10% earn less
  2. $55,01025th percentile
  3. $64,520median
  4. $78,78075th percentile
  5. $95,170top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

An industrial machinery mechanic earned a median of $64,520 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 17.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+17.8%[2]
Openings per year
44,400[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do industrial machinery mechanics make?

The median wage for industrial machinery mechanics was $64,520 a year, or $31.02 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of the workers earned more than that and half earned less. The mean (average) was $68,460 a year, or $32.91 an hour[8].

The pay range is wide. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $46,120 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $55,010[4]. At the top, the highest-paid 25% earned more than $78,780 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $95,170[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $22.17 and the 90th percentile was $45.76[9].

For comparison, the median annual wage across all occupations was $50,980[5]. A percentile is a boundary line in the pay data, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[10]. These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or certain bonuses[11].

Pay by state and city

Median pay differs a lot by location. The District of Columbia had the highest state-level median at $87,670, followed by Wyoming at $78,320 and Nevada at $77,750[12]. Mississippi had the lowest published median at $57,760[12].

Texas had the most jobs, at 56,950, followed by California with 26,830 and Pennsylvania with 22,160[13]. Among metro areas, Longview-Kelso, WA had the highest median at $96,950, and Parkersburg-Vienna, WV came next at $93,670[14]. The metro area with the most jobs was Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX with 18,360 jobs and a median of $63,180[15].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[12]$87,670200
Wyoming$78,3202,010
Nevada$77,7502,240
Alaska$77,390860
Hawaii$77,330910
Washington$77,22010,710
Illinois$76,20012,100
Oregon$75,6707,070
Colorado$75,6007,260
Arizona$74,7905,020
New Jersey$74,7608,380
California$74,40026,830
Massachusetts$72,8406,130
Maine$72,3101,190
Minnesota$71,9606,510
Maryland$71,8702,880
Utah$70,7204,040
Connecticut$69,9502,360
New York$69,74012,740
Missouri$67,3905,420
Delaware$67,320890
Montana$67,250820
Wisconsin$66,62013,870
North Dakota$65,9902,560
Kansas$65,8307,700
Ohio$65,13021,950
Tennessee$65,01012,850
Rhode Island$64,7701,070
Kentucky$64,56011,540
Iowa$64,4006,050
Michigan$64,25017,310
New Hampshire$64,1501,950
Nebraska$64,1102,880
Virginia$64,0209,470
Indiana$63,95014,960
Pennsylvania$63,84022,160
Vermont$63,180700
Idaho$62,8602,750
North Carolina$62,43015,720
South Carolina$62,3309,890
Texas$61,93056,950
Alabama$61,92017,850
West Virginia$61,7103,150
South Dakota$61,5601,230
Oklahoma$61,5406,250
Georgia$61,13014,230
New Mexico$60,6702,780
Florida$60,65017,120
Louisiana$60,2607,410
Arkansas$59,7606,270
Mississippi$57,7604,460

How to become an industrial machinery mechanic

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and long-term on-the-job training[7]. The Occupational Outlook Handbook profile used for the details below covers a wider group that includes machinery maintenance workers and millwrights[16].

In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 47% said a post-secondary certificate was required for their job[20]. Another 39% named a high school diploma or equivalent, and 14% named an associate degree[20]. This is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture. The profile also lists a minimum age of 18 and being physically able to do the work[21][22].

The 4-year apprenticeship in the profile applies to millwrights, a related job, and not to industrial machinery mechanics[23].

What industrial machinery mechanics do

O*NET describes the job as repairing, installing, adjusting or maintaining production and processing machinery, and sometimes moving or dismantling heavy equipment[24]. Common tasks include:

Workers in this field report job titles such as industrial mechanic, machine adjuster, maintenance technician and loom fixer[26]. Good manual dexterity, mechanical skills and troubleshooting skills matter for the work[27][28][29].

Where they work

In the wider group covered by the Handbook, manufacturing was the largest employer, at 51% of jobs in 2025[30]. Only 1.3% of industrial machinery mechanics were self-employed in 2025[31].

The work can be dangerous, so workers follow safety rules and wear protective gear, including earplugs, gloves, steel-toed shoes, safety glasses and hardhats[32]. Most mechanics and maintenance workers work full time during regular business hours. Some are on call or work nights and weekends, and overtime is common, especially for mechanics[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of industrial machinery mechanics to grow 17.8% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That is from about 446,900 to 526,600 jobs, a gain of 79,700[2]. Across all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers, so they differ from the 439,640 wage and salary jobs counted in the May 2025 pay survey[34][2].

BLS also expects about 44,400 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[6]. Openings count more than new jobs. They also include positions that open when people retire or switch occupations[6]. Each year, an estimated 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 4% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show an occupation with a median wage above the all-occupation median[1][5] and projected growth well above average[2][3]. The usual entry point is a high school diploma and long-term training on the job[7]. The work involves repairing machinery, careful testing and following safety rules[25][32]. Schedules can include on-call time, night or weekend shifts and overtime[33]. Pay and job counts vary by state and metro area, so local figures are worth checking[12][15].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an industrial machinery mechanic make an hour?
The median was $31.02 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $22.17 and the 90th percentile was $45.76[9].
What degree do you need to be an industrial machinery mechanic?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with long-term on-the-job training[7]. Some mechanics complete a 2-year associate degree in industrial maintenance[19].
Is industrial machinery mechanic a growing job?
BLS projects 17.8% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 44,400 openings a year are expected[6].
What is the highest paying state for industrial machinery mechanics?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $87,670[12]. Wyoming was next at $78,320 and Nevada third at $77,750[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in the US was $64,520 per year and $31.02 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Industrial Machinery Mechanics is projected to grow 17.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 446,900 to 526,600 jobs (a change of +79,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Industrial Machinery Mechanics: 10th percentile $46,120, 25th percentile $55,010, 75th percentile $78,780, 90th percentile $95,170. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 44,400 openings for Industrial Machinery Mechanics are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Industrial Machinery Mechanics: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics was $68,460 per year and $32.91 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Industrial Machinery Mechanics: 10th percentile $22.17, 25th percentile $26.45, 75th percentile $37.88, 90th percentile $45.76. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Industrial Machinery Mechanics jobs: Texas 56,950; California 26,830; Pennsylvania 22,160; Ohio 21,950; Alabama 17,850. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics (areas with at least 100 jobs): Longview-Kelso, WA $96,950; Parkersburg-Vienna, WV $93,670; Kokomo, IN $91,470; Fairbanks-College, AK $91,330; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $90,580; Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $89,830; Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $89,620; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $84,620. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Industrial Machinery Mechanics jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 18,360 (median $63,180); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 12,730 (median $63,380); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 10,780 (median $75,260); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 8,710 (median $75,800); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 8,500 (median $72,090); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 6,520 (median $71,100). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Machinery Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights" covers Industrial Machinery Mechanics together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 49-9041.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 47%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 39%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 14% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. O*NET description of Industrial Machinery Mechanics. O*NET OnLine
  25. O*NET task list for Industrial Machinery Mechanics. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET 49-9041.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Industrial Machinery Mechanic, Industrial Mechanic, Loom Fixer, Loom Technician, Machine Adjuster, Machine Mechanic, Maintenance Technician, Mechanic. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights in 2025: Manufacturing 51%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Employment Projections: 1.3% of Industrial Machinery Mechanics were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 439,640 people were employed as Industrial Machinery Mechanics in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Industrial Machinery Mechanics: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.