Occupation · SOC 49-9041
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 wage
$63,760
$45,090–$92,730
Projected growth
+16.1%
Faster than average
Annual openings
7,070
per year
Employed (US)
421,940
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
441 mapped
Core skills
TroubleshootingRepairingOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlEquipment MaintenanceQuality Control AnalysisCritical ThinkingMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingEquipment SelectionComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningActive LearningTime ManagementSpeakingCoordinationSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisReading ComprehensionWritingSocial PerceptivenessManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesInstructingInstallationMathematicsService OrientationPersuasionTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisNegotiationScienceProgrammingManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial Resources
Knowledge areas
MechanicalEnglish LanguageProduction and ProcessingEngineering and TechnologyDesignMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingPublic Safety and SecurityPhysicsAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceChemistryBuilding and ConstructionFood ProductionTelecommunicationsAdministrativePsychologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesEconomics and AccountingTransportationLaw and GovernmentCommunications and MediaSales and MarketingMedicine and DentistryTherapy and CounselingForeign LanguageSociology and AnthropologyPhilosophy and TheologyBiologyHistory and ArcheologyFine ArtsGeography
Technology & tools
BIT Corp ProMACS PLCComputer aided design CAD softwareExtranet Machine Tools SuiteInventory tracking softwareKEYENCE PLC Ladder LogicMaintenance management softwareMaintenance planning and control softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordProgrammable logic controller PLC softwareSAP softwareSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsGetting InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesHandling and Moving ObjectsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesThinking CreativelyDocumenting/Recording InformationWorking with ComputersTraining and Teaching OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkProcessing InformationAnalyzing Data or InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleCoaching and Developing OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesAssisting and Caring for OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationDeveloping and Building TeamsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersSelling or Influencing OthersStaffing Organizational Units
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Basic hand tools and power tools — identify and use under direct supervision during scheduled maintenance tasks on an industrial production floor.Machinery components showing visible wear or breakage — recognize and report to a journeyman mechanic in a manufacturing facility.Lubrication schedules and cleaning procedures — follow step-by-step under supervisor guidance to service equipment in a processing plant.Disassembly sequences for simple mechanical assemblies — execute with direction from a lead mechanic to access internal parts for inspection.Standard replacement parts such as belts, filters, and fasteners — retrieve and install under supervision using manufacturer specifications.Maintenance logs and work-order forms — complete accurately after each assigned task in accordance with facility recordkeeping protocols.Newly serviced equipment — operate at low speed under a technician's observation to confirm basic function before returning to production.Safety lockout/tagout procedures — apply correctly before beginning any equipment maintenance task in a regulated industrial environment.Parts and assemblies removed during disassembly — organize and label systematically so reassembly can proceed without error under guidance.Verbal instructions and technical briefings from senior mechanics — listen actively and ask clarifying questions to complete assigned maintenance tasks correctly.
developing
Preventive maintenance schedules for a range of production machinery — execute independently, adjusting task sequencing to minimize downtime on a busy plant floor.Malfunctioning mechanical components such as gears, bearings, and shafts — diagnose cause of failure and replace with appropriate parts with minimal oversight.Hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical systems on industrial equipment — inspect, clean, and adjust during routine servicing cycles in a processing facility.Disassembly and reassembly of moderately complex machinery — perform in correct sequence, verifying tolerances and clearances against manufacturer service manuals.Operational tests on repaired machinery — conduct and interpret results to confirm repair adequacy before releasing equipment back to production.Defective parts and worn components — examine systematically using near-vision inspection and precision measuring instruments to determine serviceability.Maintenance and repair records — document completely and accurately in a computerized maintenance management or inventory management system after each job.Troubleshooting logic for recurring mechanical faults — apply structured diagnostic methods to identify root causes in familiar equipment types within the facility.Replacement part requirements — assess and communicate clearly to supervisors or parts staff using inventory management software to avoid production delays.Time and task priorities across multiple concurrent work orders — manage independently to meet production schedules in a high-demand industrial environment.
proficient
Complex, non-routine mechanical failures across a wide variety of industrial machinery — diagnose and resolve autonomously, applying advanced troubleshooting techniques in a full-scale manufacturing facility.Integrated hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and mechanical systems — inspect, repair, and re-commission without supervision, ensuring all subsystems meet operational specifications.Root-cause analysis for repetitive equipment breakdowns — conduct thoroughly and recommend design or process modifications to maintenance supervisors to prevent recurrence.Full disassembly and precision reassembly of large or specialized industrial machines — oversee and perform independently, verifying alignment and calibration to engineering tolerances.Industrial control software and CAD/CAM documentation — interpret and utilize to guide complex repairs, parameter adjustments, and equipment reconfigurations on the plant floor.Post-repair operational verification trials — design and execute for newly serviced or modified machinery to confirm performance meets production quality standards.Detailed maintenance histories and failure-trend data — analyze using database and spreadsheet software to identify systemic issues and drive proactive maintenance strategies.Non-standard or obsolete equipment lacking current documentation — service using engineering judgment, reverse-engineering methods, and accumulated mechanical knowledge.Junior and mid-level mechanics encountering unfamiliar fault conditions — guide through diagnostic reasoning without taking over the task, reinforcing skill development.Cross-functional communication with production supervisors and engineers — conduct clearly and professionally to align maintenance priorities with operational and quality goals.
advanced
Facility-wide preventive and predictive maintenance programs — design, implement, and continuously improve to maximize equipment uptime across all production lines.Maintenance department standards, procedures, and technical training curricula — develop and institutionalize so that all skill levels perform work safely and consistently.Capital repair versus equipment replacement decisions — lead evaluation using cost-benefit analysis, failure data, and production impact metrics to advise plant leadership.Emerging maintenance technologies such as condition-monitoring sensors and industrial IoT platforms — evaluate and champion adoption to modernize the maintenance function.Multi-craft maintenance teams during critical equipment overhauls or emergency shutdowns — coordinate to ensure safe, efficient, on-schedule completion across a large industrial site.Maintenance performance metrics including mean time between failures and maintenance cost per unit — establish, monitor, and report to site leadership using facilities management software.Organizational maintenance budgets and spare-parts inventories — manage strategically, balancing cost control with parts availability to sustain continuous production operations.Cross-departmental relationships with engineering, procurement, and production planning teams — build and sustain to integrate maintenance strategy into broader operational planning.Complex safety incidents or near-misses involving industrial machinery — lead root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions that drive lasting cultural and procedural change.Next-generation industrial mechanics and apprentices — mentor over multi-year development arcs, transferring deep mechanical expertise and professional judgment to the workforce pipeline.
Also known as
211 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Anode RebuilderAppliance FixerAppliance MechanicArea MechanicAssembly MechanicAuto Equipment Maintenance Servicer (Automotive Equipment Maintenance Servicer)Automatic Pinsetter AdjusterAutomotive Maintenance Equipment ServicerAviation Support Equipment RepairerBag AdjusterBag Machine AdjusterBakery Machine MechanicBelt RepairerBoilerhouse MechanicBreakdown ManBreakdown WorkerBroach TroubleshooterBuhr DresserCanal Equipment MechanicCarpet and Rug Machine FixerCase Finishing Machine AdjusterCellophane Casting Machine RepairerChain RepairerChanger FixerChannel ManChannel WorkerChemical Processing Equipment RepairerComb FixerComb SetterComber SetterComposing Room MachinistComposite Gas Maintenance MechanicCompressed Gas Equipment MechanicCompressed Gas Equipment Service MechanicCompressed Gas Plant Maintenance MechanicConveyor Belt InstallerConveyor InstallerConveyor Maintenance MechanicConveyor MechanicCooling Tower Technician