Occupations49-9041.00

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems.

Median annual pay
$63,760

BLS, 2024

Employment
439,600

U.S., 2024

Ten-year outlook
+16.1%

2024–34

Annual openings
45,700

Projected average

The work

Core tasks

  1. 01Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.
  2. 02Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.
  3. 03Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery.
  4. 04Disassemble machinery or equipment to remove parts and make repairs.
  5. 05Reassemble equipment after completion of inspections, testing, or repairs.
  6. 06Examine parts for defects, such as breakage or excessive wear.
  7. 07Record repairs and maintenance performed.
  8. 08Operate newly repaired machinery or equipment to verify the adequacy of repairs.
  9. 09Record parts or materials used and order or requisition new parts or materials, as necessary.
  10. 10Observe and test the operation of machinery or equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using voltmeters or other testing devices.
  11. 11Analyze test results, machine error messages, or information obtained from operators to diagnose equipment problems.
  12. 12Study blueprints or manufacturers' manuals to determine correct installation or operation of machinery.

Capabilities

Essential skills

Critical ThinkingActive ListeningActive LearningMonitoringSpeakingReading ComprehensionWritingLearning StrategiesMathematicsScience

Employment outlook

Where the role is heading

U.S. employment is projected to move from 439,600 in 2024 to 510,300 in 2034, a +16.1% change.

BLS projects an average of 45,700 openings each year over the period, including openings created by workers leaving the occupation.