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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.
Other titles employers use
Industrial Machinery Mechanic · Industrial Mechanic · Loom Fixer · Loom Technician · Machine Adjuster · Machine Mechanic · Maintenance Technician · Mechanic
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Examine parts for defects, such as breakage or excessive wear.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
- Quality Control Analysis
Subjects to know
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
Useful strengths
- Problem Sensitivity
- Manual Dexterity
- Finger Dexterity
- Control Precision
- Near Vision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.7 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 4.0 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.5 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 47%
- High school or less 39%
- A two-year degree 14%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Industrial control software
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 54,580
- Job openings each year
- 4,910
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 26.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 54,580 | 4,910 | 26.7% |
| California | 34,300 | 2,940 | 17.1% |
| Michigan | 23,650 | 2,000 | 14.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 21,940 | 1,890 | 17.2% |
| Wisconsin | 21,220 | 1,890 | 25.0% |
| Alabama | 20,040 | 1,790 | 24.7% |
| Florida | 19,800 | 1,750 | 23.1% |
| Indiana | 18,350 | 1,550 | 13.6% |
| Ohio | 18,270 | 1,560 | 16.1% |
| North Carolina | 17,810 | 1,570 | 22.0% |
| Georgia | 16,220 | 1,450 | 25.9% |
| Virginia | 14,070 | 1,210 | 16.5% |
| New Jersey | 12,440 | 1,070 | 16.8% |
| Tennessee | 11,530 | 1,040 | 28.1% |
| South Carolina | 11,240 | 1,010 | 25.6% |
| New York | 10,910 | 0 | −3.5% |
| Washington | 10,430 | 1,030 | 15.0% |
| Illinois | 10,340 | 890 | 18.0% |
| Kentucky | 9,800 | 850 | 19.4% |
| Iowa | 8,260 | 730 | 23.1% |
| Minnesota | 8,090 | 710 | 20.6% |
| Arkansas | 7,780 | 680 | 21.8% |
| Louisiana | 7,740 | 680 | 21.5% |
| Missouri | 6,870 | 590 | 16.0% |
| Oregon | 6,830 | 610 | 23.7% |
| Kansas | 6,610 | 580 | 19.5% |
| Mississippi | 6,510 | 580 | 23.1% |
| Colorado | 5,940 | 520 | 21.7% |
| Oklahoma | 5,510 | 470 | 16.2% |
| Utah | 5,060 | 470 | 37.5% |
| Arizona | 5,000 | 460 | 29.9% |
| West Virginia | 4,120 | 360 | 22.3% |
| Maryland | 4,020 | 350 | 21.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 3,930 | 350 | 26.8% |
| Connecticut | 3,690 | 320 | 21.0% |
| Nebraska | 3,220 | 280 | 22.4% |
| New Mexico | 3,150 | 280 | 23.5% |
| North Dakota | 2,560 | 230 | 22.5% |
| Idaho | 2,480 | 230 | 29.2% |
| New Hampshire | 2,460 | 220 | 20.6% |
| Nevada | 2,420 | 220 | 32.2% |
| Massachusetts | 2,370 | 200 | 17.3% |
| Wyoming | 2,330 | 200 | 18.3% |
| South Dakota | 1,590 | 140 | 27.2% |
| Maine | 1,480 | 120 | 9.6% |
| Montana | 1,120 | 100 | 24.4% |
| Rhode Island | 1,040 | 90 | 28.4% |
| Delaware | 1,020 | 90 | 22.9% |
| Vermont | 740 | 60 | 17.5% |
| Alaska | 280 | 20 | 16.7% |
| District of Columbia | 150 | 10 | 7.1% |
| Guam | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Virgin Islands | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
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Where to study
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