Installation, Maintenance, and Repair · Career brief

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Industrial Machinery Mechanics at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$64,520

Middle-of-the-pack pay

2025 national median. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

17.8%

Very fast projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top 10% for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

44,400

Lots of annual openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

ChooseField take

The strongest national signals are growth and opening volume; each ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.

Before choosing, compare:Rail Car Repairers Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons Maintenance Workers, Machinery

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Industrial Machinery Mechanics with another field Explore rankings in Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$64,520

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

17.8%employment growth44,400openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

446,900

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Industrial machinery mechanics (49-9041).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.
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.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

The work can involve real occupational hazards. Training, protective equipment, and routine safety discipline matter every day.
Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.2
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.1
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.1
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment4.1
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.0

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic7.0
Conventional4.3
Investigative3.0
Enterprising1.2
Artistic1.0
Social1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Mechanical Production and Processing Engineering and Technology Design

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Take a supervised shop, maker, or trade class and finish one project while following its measurement, cleanup, and safety rules.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Industrial machinery mechanics nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Active Listening among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options