Skilled Trades
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.
Median salary (BLS)
$64,520
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$46k – $95k
Job outlook
+16% (much faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $70,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Education
Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Entry / Junior
$46,120
~2 yrs to advance
Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Established
$64,520
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Senior
$79,845
Key skills
A typical 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.
- •Disassemble machinery or equipment to remove parts and make repairs.
- •Reassemble equipment after completion of inspections, testing, or repairs.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.