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Industrial Machinery Mechanics

General Information

Description

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.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Manufacturing

Job Outlook

Overall employment of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights is projected to grow 14 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 53,200 openings for industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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Job Outlook

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Overall employment of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights is projected to grow 14 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 53,200 openings for industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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    • Welders and Metal Workers
      • Welders and metal workers deal with shaping, brazing, soldering, and forming metals to aid in different construction efforts that serve military missions worldwide. They install sheet metal products, such as roofs, air ducts, gutters, and vents. They also create custom parts to repair the structural components of ships, tanks, submarines, landing craft, buildings, and equipment. These enlisted workers use a wide range of skills, processes, and tools. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Aircraft Mechanics
      • Aircraft mechanics supervise or perform the inspection, service, and repair of the Military's fleet of helicopters and airplanes. These mechanics troubleshoot and maintain the aircraft’s structure, engines, and other components, including mission-critical features such as weapons and electronic warfare, and coatings for stealth purposes. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Aircraft Engine Mechanics
      • Some aircraft mechanics in the Military work solely on the engines, or powerplants, of the aircraft. These mechanics troubleshoot and perform organizational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance on the engines and related components of the Military’s airplanes and helicopters. Aircraft engine mechanics must have specialized knowledge of the mechanical, electrical, and hydraulics principles applying to jet and turboprop engines. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Heavy Equipment Mechanics
      • Heavy equipment mechanics specialize in the maintenance and repair of heavy equipment, such as tanks and other combat vehicles. They maintain and repair construction equipment, including equipment used for earthmoving, grading and compaction, lifting and loading, quarrying and rock crushing, asphalt/concrete mixing and surfacing, and water pumping, as well as special purpose equipment, including power generation equipment and air conditioning/refrigeration systems. They also supervise and perform diagnostic troubleshooting to determine maintenance repair criteria. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Fuel Supply Specialists
      • Fuel supply specialists receive, store, account and care for, dispense, issue, and ship various fuel products including petroleum, alternate fuel, and cryogenic products. They manage, maintain, and operate fuel support equipment used for base and tactical operations. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with all safety and environmental regulations. They perform analyses to ensure quality of fuels and lubricants. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Marine Equipment Mechanics
      • Marine engine mechanics repair, inspect, test, and maintain gasoline and diesel engines on ships, boats, and other watercraft. They also repair shipboard mechanical and electrical equipment, including refrigeration, hydrojet propulsion, and air conditioning systems. Specialized tools help them make accurate diagnoses and estimate how long a part will be reliable before it should be replaced. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Weapon Repair Officers
      • Weapon repair and maintenance officers manage the activities and personnel engaged in the maintenance and repair of the Military’s weapons, from small arms to nuclear missiles, and their associated equipment. They oversee inspections, inventory, check-out procedures, and shop operations. These officers must have expert knowledge in the design, operation, and safe shipment and employment of military weapons. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Ordnance Specialists
      • Ordnance specialists are responsible for the safety, security, and accountability of the Military’s weapons and ammunition. They perform a wide variety of duties, including the safe receipt, storage, and transport of ordnance. Some of these specialists deal solely with the destruction and demilitarization of explosive items, while some deal solely with maintenance and repair. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Power Plant Mechanics
      • Power plant mechanics install, maintain, and repair mechanical equipment in power-generating stations. They maintain various types of power-generating equipment on land, ships, and submarines. They also support the mobile utility equipment that the Military provides as portable, temporary sources of electricity. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Heating and Cooling Mechanics
      • Heating and cooling mechanics are responsible for providing the Military with technical and mechanical services regarding heating, cooling, and related systems. They install, operate and perform inspections, testing, troubleshooting, and repairs on malfunctioning systems. They perform maintenance and quality control functions, ensuring compliance with safety and environmental regulations. They supervise and provide guidance to subordinates and they provide recommendations regarding installations and repairments of HVAC/R and related systems. Navigate to Military Career Page
No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

Salary

$59,840

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

$79,290
$29,390
No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Post-secondary certificate 47%
  • High school 39%
  • Associate's degree 13%
  • Some college 0%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Mechanical
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Education and Training
  • Mathematics

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

* Military pay may be higher based on specialty pays or bonuses. Learn more about Military benefits.

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.