Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Also called: Industrial Machinery Mechanic, Maintenance Technician, Mechanic, OverhaulerRepair, 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.
On a phone, press and hold a picture to save it to Photos.
opens your phone's share sheet, where you can save both to Photos
What the data says: AI could halve the time on 4 of its 16 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 17.8% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 1.5% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 28% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,920 | $49,180 to $77,380 | 17,850 |
| Alaska | $77,390 | $61,900 to $95,160 | 860 |
| Arizona | $74,790 | $59,660 to $82,140 | 5,020 |
| Arkansas | $59,760 | $48,370 to $72,340 | 6,270 |
| California | $74,400 | $59,360 to $90,500 | 26,830 |
| Colorado | $75,600 | $61,170 to $83,990 | 7,260 |
| Connecticut | $69,950 | $56,780 to $83,140 | 2,360 |
| Delaware | $67,320 | $60,220 to $82,570 | 890 |
| District of Columbia | $87,670 | $71,370 to $97,080 | 200 |
| Florida | $60,650 | $47,800 to $74,400 | 17,120 |
| Georgia | $61,130 | $50,200 to $75,360 | 14,230 |
| Guam | not published | not published | 120 |
| Hawaii | $77,330 | $61,560 to $96,830 | 910 |
| Idaho | $62,860 | $50,590 to $75,140 | 2,750 |
| Illinois | $76,200 | $61,120 to $91,880 | 12,100 |
| Indiana | $63,950 | $57,950 to $76,740 | 14,960 |
| Iowa | $64,400 | $57,550 to $76,040 | 6,050 |
| Kansas | $65,830 | $57,960 to $83,540 | 7,700 |
| Kentucky | $64,560 | $56,940 to $76,730 | 11,540 |
| Louisiana | $60,260 | $47,470 to $74,690 | 7,410 |
| Maine | $72,310 | $59,880 to $79,220 | 1,190 |
| Maryland | $71,870 | $59,750 to $80,620 | 2,880 |
| Massachusetts | $72,840 | $58,220 to $84,690 | 6,130 |
| Michigan | $64,250 | $57,310 to $77,310 | 17,310 |
| Minnesota | $71,960 | $60,940 to $82,110 | 6,510 |
| Mississippi | $57,760 | $48,880 to $74,890 | 4,460 |
| Missouri | $67,390 | $57,200 to $78,380 | 5,420 |
| Montana | $67,250 | $58,570 to $85,900 | 820 |
| Nebraska | $64,110 | $57,550 to $75,670 | 2,880 |
| Nevada | $77,750 | $64,710 to $79,920 | 2,240 |
| New Hampshire | $64,150 | $54,960 to $76,740 | 1,950 |
| New Jersey | $74,760 | $60,590 to $86,180 | 8,380 |
| New Mexico | $60,670 | $48,990 to $75,460 | 2,780 |
| New York | $69,740 | $59,680 to $82,070 | 12,740 |
| North Carolina | $62,430 | $49,650 to $74,420 | 15,720 |
| North Dakota | $65,990 | $60,400 to $79,170 | 2,560 |
| Ohio | $65,130 | $58,740 to $76,790 | 21,950 |
| Oklahoma | $61,540 | $50,550 to $76,000 | 6,250 |
| Oregon | $75,670 | $62,260 to $86,250 | 7,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $63,840 | $58,570 to $75,640 | 22,160 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,450 | $33,470 to $47,620 | 2,940 |
| Rhode Island | $64,770 | $56,170 to $77,910 | 1,070 |
| South Carolina | $62,330 | $50,960 to $76,190 | 9,890 |
| South Dakota | $61,560 | $52,160 to $68,560 | 1,230 |
| Tennessee | $65,010 | $55,540 to $78,210 | 12,850 |
| Texas | $61,930 | $49,230 to $77,720 | 56,950 |
| Utah | $70,720 | $59,250 to $81,710 | 4,040 |
| Vermont | $63,180 | $58,000 to $74,760 | 700 |
| Virginia | $64,020 | $53,780 to $79,150 | 9,470 |
| Washington | $77,220 | $61,750 to $97,490 | 10,710 |
| West Virginia | $61,710 | $47,780 to $79,810 | 3,150 |
| Wisconsin | $66,620 | $59,270 to $77,800 | 13,870 |
| Wyoming | $78,320 | $60,640 to $105,210 | 2,010 |
Nationally: $64,520. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 4 of its 16 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Examine parts for defects, such as breakage or excessive wear. | Not published |
| Not much | Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery. | Not published |
| Not much | Disassemble machinery or equipment to remove parts and make repairs. | Not published |
| Not much | Reassemble equipment after completion of inspections, testing, or repairs. | Not published |
See all 16 tasks
| Not much | Operate newly repaired machinery or equipment to verify the adequacy of repairs. | Not published |
| AI alone | Record repairs and maintenance performed. | Not published |
| Not much | Study blueprints or manufacturers' manuals to determine correct installation or operation of machinery. | Not published |
| AI + software | Record parts or materials used and order or requisition new parts or materials, as necessary. | Not published |
| Not much | Analyze test results, machine error messages, or information obtained from operators to diagnose equipment problems. | 0.02% |
| Not much | Demonstrate equipment functions and features to machine operators. | Not published |
| Not much | Observe and test the operation of machinery or equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using voltmeters or other testing devices. | Not published |
| Not much | Cut and weld metal to repair broken metal parts, fabricate new parts, or assemble new equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Enter codes and instructions to program computer-controlled machinery. | Not published |
| AI + software | Assign schedules to work crews. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 1 of the 16 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 16 tasks fall under 18 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #35 Process digital or online data
- #36 Purchase goods or services
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Purchase goods or services | |||
| Adjust equipment to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Analyze performance of systems or equipment |
Show all 18 activities
| Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areas | |||
| Cut materials | |||
| Disassemble equipment | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Monitor equipment operation | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Assign work to others | |||
| Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment | |||
| Join parts using soldering, welding, or brazing techniques |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Code fixes or debugging30%
- An explanation or answer22%
- An analysis or summary16%
- A script or snippet7%
- Configuration or infrastructure5%
How they worked with Claude
65% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for industrial machinery mechanics specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 36,794 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 7%
- 2 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers High +4.1% 6%
- 3 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 5%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
- 5 Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians High +3.1% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 38,337 moves in
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 2 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Low +4.2% 4%
- 3 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Moderate +5.0% 4%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
- 5 First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers High +4.1% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 39% high school
- 47% postsecondary certificate
- 14% associate's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 21 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 11% less than high school
- 40% high school
- 25% some college
- 15% associate's
- 7% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics” · 3,481 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Industrial and refractory machinery mechanics”
4 programs, such as Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician, Energy Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician and Hydroelectric Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician.
See all
- Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician
- Energy Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
- Hydroelectric Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
- Geothermal Energy System Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
44.4% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 4.4% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 5.9% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 42 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Industrial Machinery Mechanics” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/49-9041.00