Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Industrial Machinery Mechanics (SOC 49-9041) earn a median $64,520 a year ($31.02 an hour) in the United States, with 439,640 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What industrial machinery mechanics do
Industrial machinery mechanics repair, install, adjust and maintain the machinery used in industrial production and processing, as well as refinery and pipeline distribution systems, and may also install, take apart or relocate machinery and heavy equipment following plans. They repair or maintain the operating condition of the machinery, repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components, and clean, lubricate or adjust parts, equipment and machinery. Machines are disassembled to remove parts and make repairs, parts are examined for defects such as breakage or excessive wear, and equipment is reassembled after inspections, testing or repairs. After a repair, the mechanic operates the newly repaired machinery to verify that the repair was adequate, and records the repairs and maintenance performed. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines (49-3042) and machinery maintenance workers (49-9043) are excluded and have their own codes. Millwrights (49-9044) are classified separately. Titles listed include area mechanic, assembly mechanic and automatic pinsetter adjuster.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate, meaning training completed after high school but short of a degree.
Also called: Anode Rebuilder, Appliance Fixer, Appliance Mechanic, Area Mechanic, Assembly Mechanic.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.17 | $26.45 | $31.02 | $37.88 | $45.76 | $32.91 | 439,640 |
| Annual | $46,120 | $55,010 | $64,520 | $78,780 | $95,170 | $68,460 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where industrial machinery mechanics earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $26.11 | $34.31 | $42.15 | $46.67 | $51.06 | $40.32 | 200 | 0.29 | 0.10 |
| Annual | $54,310 | $71,370 | $87,670 | $97,080 | $106,200 | $83,870 | ||||
| Wyoming | Hourly | $24.50 | $29.15 | $37.66 | $50.58 | $55.21 | $39.09 | 2,010 | 7.15 | 2.53 |
| Annual | $50,960 | $60,640 | $78,320 | $105,210 | $114,830 | $81,310 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $28.58 | $31.11 | $37.38 | $38.43 | $46.23 | $36.49 | 2,240 | 1.44 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $59,450 | $64,710 | $77,750 | $79,920 | $96,150 | $75,900 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $22.77 | $29.76 | $37.21 | $45.75 | $52.48 | $38.58 | 860 | 2.63 | 0.93 |
| Annual | $47,360 | $61,900 | $77,390 | $95,160 | $109,160 | $80,250 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $24.50 | $29.60 | $37.18 | $46.55 | $56.50 | $39.76 | 910 | 1.46 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $50,960 | $61,560 | $77,330 | $96,830 | $117,520 | $82,700 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $19.99 | $23.67 | $29.78 | $37.36 | $46.04 | $31.70 | 56,950 | 4.05 | 1.43 |
| Annual | $41,580 | $49,230 | $61,930 | $77,720 | $95,770 | $65,940 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $23.02 | $28.54 | $35.77 | $43.51 | $51.78 | $36.57 | 26,830 | 1.47 | 0.52 |
| Annual | $47,880 | $59,360 | $74,400 | $90,500 | $107,700 | $76,060 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $22.84 | $28.16 | $30.69 | $36.37 | $40.68 | $32.07 | 22,160 | 3.65 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $47,510 | $58,570 | $63,840 | $75,640 | $84,620 | $66,700 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $22.88 | $28.24 | $31.31 | $36.92 | $44.01 | $32.64 | 21,950 | 3.96 | 1.40 |
| Annual | $47,580 | $58,740 | $65,130 | $76,790 | $91,540 | $67,900 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $20.64 | $23.64 | $29.77 | $37.20 | $44.16 | $30.91 | 17,850 | 8.45 | 2.99 |
| Annual | $42,940 | $49,180 | $61,920 | $77,380 | $91,840 | $64,300 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Longview-Kelso, WA | Hourly | $27.37 | $35.76 | $46.61 | $47.72 | $48.48 | $40.98 | 560 | 13.54 | 4.79 |
| Annual | $56,930 | $74,380 | $96,950 | $99,250 | $100,830 | $85,240 | ||||
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | Hourly | $25.32 | $36.30 | $45.03 | $45.06 | $45.06 | $40.33 | 200 | 5.46 | 1.93 |
| Annual | $52,660 | $75,510 | $93,670 | $93,730 | $93,730 | $83,880 | ||||
| Kokomo, IN | Hourly | $26.04 | $30.19 | $43.98 | $43.98 | $43.98 | $38.41 | 240 | 6.73 | 2.38 |
| Annual | $54,150 | $62,790 | $91,470 | $91,470 | $91,470 | $79,900 | ||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $29.62 | $36.40 | $43.91 | $48.94 | $48.94 | $41.51 | 130 | 3.54 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $61,610 | $75,700 | $91,330 | $101,780 | $101,780 | $86,340 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $28.02 | $33.89 | $43.55 | $56.94 | $63.25 | $44.25 | 2,550 | 1.08 | 0.38 |
| Annual | $58,280 | $70,480 | $90,580 | $118,440 | $131,570 | $92,050 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $21.12 | $24.02 | $30.38 | $37.62 | $48.63 | $33.00 | 18,360 | 5.58 | 1.97 |
| Annual | $43,920 | $49,960 | $63,180 | $78,240 | $101,140 | $68,640 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $21.30 | $24.64 | $30.47 | $37.61 | $44.81 | $31.96 | 12,730 | 3.14 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $44,310 | $51,240 | $63,380 | $78,220 | $93,210 | $66,480 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $23.13 | $28.83 | $36.18 | $44.46 | $53.02 | $36.90 | 10,780 | 1.14 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $48,100 | $59,970 | $75,260 | $92,480 | $110,270 | $76,760 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $23.68 | $29.78 | $36.44 | $43.75 | $49.32 | $36.85 | 8,710 | 1.93 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $49,250 | $61,930 | $75,800 | $91,000 | $102,590 | $76,660 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.48 | $26.96 | $34.66 | $43.36 | $51.26 | $35.75 | 8,500 | 1.36 | 0.48 |
| Annual | $46,760 | $56,070 | $72,090 | $90,190 | $106,620 | $74,370 | ||||
Top industries employing industrial machinery mechanics
Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance employ 12.2% of industrial machinery mechanics nationally (53,790 jobs) at a median $60,750 a year ($29.21 an hour), followed by Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (10.6%) and Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) (4.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance NAICS 811300 | 53,790 | 12.2% | $60,750 | $29.21 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423800 | 46,600 | 10.6% | $63,220 | $30.40 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) NAICS 3330A1 | 18,570 | 4.2% | $63,970 | $30.76 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing NAICS 326100 | 14,570 | 3.3% | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336300 | 13,210 | 3.0% | $64,220 | $30.88 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (439,640). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $59,840 for industrial machinery mechanics in May 2021 and $64,520 in May 2025, with employment of 373,090 and 439,640.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $59,840 | $28.77 | 373,090 |
| May 2022 | $59,830 | $28.76 | 386,120 |
| May 2023 | $61,420 | $29.53 | 412,650 |
| May 2024 | $63,760 | $30.65 | 421,940 |
| May 2025 | $64,520 | $31.02 | 439,640 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $42.15 | $87,670 | $54,310 | $106,200 | 200 | 0.29 | 0.10 |
| 2 | Wyoming profile | $37.66 | $78,320 | $50,960 | $114,830 | 2,010 | 7.15 | 2.53 |
| 3 | Nevada profile | $37.38 | $77,750 | $59,450 | $96,150 | 2,240 | 1.44 | 0.51 |
| 4 | Alaska profile | $37.21 | $77,390 | $47,360 | $109,160 | 860 | 2.63 | 0.93 |
| 5 | Hawaii profile | $37.18 | $77,330 | $50,960 | $117,520 | 910 | 1.46 | 0.52 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $37.12 | $77,220 | $49,450 | $112,410 | 10,710 | 3.02 | 1.07 |
| 7 | Illinois profile | $36.63 | $76,200 | $49,230 | $102,590 | 12,100 | 1.98 | 0.70 |
| 8 | Oregon profile | $36.38 | $75,670 | $53,290 | $99,470 | 7,070 | 3.60 | 1.27 |
| 9 | Colorado profile | $36.35 | $75,600 | $50,470 | $101,590 | 7,260 | 2.53 | 0.89 |
| 10 | Arizona profile | $35.96 | $74,790 | $51,240 | $100,810 | 5,020 | 1.55 | 0.55 |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | $35.94 | $74,760 | $48,680 | $99,440 | 8,380 | 1.96 | 0.69 |
| 12 | California profile | $35.77 | $74,400 | $47,880 | $107,700 | 26,830 | 1.47 | 0.52 |
| 13 | Massachusetts profile | $35.02 | $72,840 | $49,230 | $98,350 | 6,130 | 1.68 | 0.60 |
| 14 | Maine profile | $34.77 | $72,310 | $51,160 | $94,060 | 1,190 | 1.86 | 0.66 |
| 15 | Minnesota profile | $34.60 | $71,960 | $52,040 | $97,600 | 6,510 | 2.21 | 0.78 |
| 16 | Maryland profile | $34.55 | $71,870 | $47,620 | $96,450 | 2,880 | 1.04 | 0.37 |
| 17 | Utah profile | $34.00 | $70,720 | $47,870 | $102,800 | 4,040 | 2.33 | 0.82 |
| 18 | Connecticut profile | $33.63 | $69,950 | $47,310 | $101,490 | 2,360 | 1.39 | 0.49 |
| 19 | New York profile | $33.53 | $69,740 | $47,820 | $101,360 | 12,740 | 1.32 | 0.47 |
| 20 | Missouri profile | $32.40 | $67,390 | $45,190 | $104,110 | 5,420 | 1.85 | 0.65 |
| 21 | Delaware profile | $32.37 | $67,320 | $49,410 | $102,610 | 890 | 1.84 | 0.65 |
| 22 | Montana profile | $32.33 | $67,250 | $48,730 | $105,930 | 820 | 1.60 | 0.57 |
| 23 | Wisconsin profile | $32.03 | $66,620 | $49,360 | $88,790 | 13,870 | 4.72 | 1.67 |
| 24 | North Dakota profile | $31.72 | $65,990 | $51,210 | $104,350 | 2,560 | 5.96 | 2.11 |
| 25 | Kansas profile | $31.65 | $65,830 | $45,910 | $90,640 | 7,700 | 5.36 | 1.89 |
| 26 | Ohio profile | $31.31 | $65,130 | $47,580 | $91,540 | 21,950 | 3.96 | 1.40 |
| 27 | Tennessee profile | $31.26 | $65,010 | $45,530 | $88,610 | 12,850 | 3.92 | 1.39 |
| 28 | Rhode Island profile | $31.14 | $64,770 | $48,970 | $82,980 | 1,070 | 2.14 | 0.76 |
| 29 | Kentucky profile | $31.04 | $64,560 | $46,050 | $85,320 | 11,540 | 5.77 | 2.04 |
| 30 | Iowa profile | $30.96 | $64,400 | $47,770 | $82,780 | 6,050 | 3.88 | 1.37 |
| 31 | Michigan profile | $30.89 | $64,250 | $47,080 | $91,270 | 17,310 | 3.93 | 1.39 |
| 32 | New Hampshire profile | $30.84 | $64,150 | $46,630 | $91,850 | 1,950 | 2.85 | 1.01 |
| 33 | Nebraska profile | $30.82 | $64,110 | $49,130 | $83,320 | 2,880 | 2.82 | 1.00 |
| 34 | Virginia profile | $30.78 | $64,020 | $46,060 | $92,210 | 9,470 | 2.31 | 0.82 |
| 35 | Indiana profile | $30.74 | $63,950 | $47,860 | $87,300 | 14,960 | 4.67 | 1.65 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania profile | $30.69 | $63,840 | $47,510 | $84,620 | 22,160 | 3.65 | 1.29 |
| 37 | Vermont profile | $30.37 | $63,180 | $50,170 | $86,210 | 700 | 2.29 | 0.81 |
| 38 | Idaho profile | $30.22 | $62,860 | $47,270 | $90,580 | 2,750 | 3.20 | 1.13 |
| 39 | North Carolina profile | $30.02 | $62,430 | $43,550 | $81,970 | 15,720 | 3.18 | 1.13 |
| 40 | South Carolina profile | $29.96 | $62,330 | $45,060 | $83,050 | 9,890 | 4.29 | 1.52 |
| 41 | Texas profile | $29.78 | $61,930 | $41,580 | $95,770 | 56,950 | 4.05 | 1.43 |
| 42 | Alabama profile | $29.77 | $61,920 | $42,940 | $91,840 | 17,850 | 8.45 | 2.99 |
| 43 | West Virginia profile | $29.67 | $61,710 | $44,860 | $93,730 | 3,150 | 4.49 | 1.59 |
| 44 | South Dakota profile | $29.60 | $61,560 | $48,510 | $77,680 | 1,230 | 2.69 | 0.95 |
| 45 | Oklahoma profile | $29.59 | $61,540 | $46,210 | $90,700 | 6,250 | 3.66 | 1.29 |
| 46 | Georgia profile | $29.39 | $61,130 | $44,730 | $83,890 | 14,230 | 2.91 | 1.03 |
| 47 | New Mexico profile | $29.17 | $60,670 | $41,290 | $84,480 | 2,780 | 3.19 | 1.13 |
| 48 | Florida profile | $29.16 | $60,650 | $43,470 | $84,000 | 17,120 | 1.72 | 0.61 |
| 49 | Louisiana profile | $28.97 | $60,260 | $37,790 | $88,490 | 7,410 | 3.83 | 1.35 |
| 50 | Arkansas profile | $28.73 | $59,760 | $39,180 | $81,020 | 6,270 | 4.81 | 1.70 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $27.77 | $57,760 | $38,880 | $86,930 | 4,460 | 3.84 | 1.36 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-9040), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.