Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship

Salary, outlook & programs across 51 states

Industrial machinery mechanics (millwrights and maintenance mechanics) keep factory equipment running — production lines, conveyors, pumps, robotic cells, and packaging machines. It's heavy diagnostic work with downtime pressure: a stopped line costs money every minute.

Median Salary
$63,760/yr
National median
Job Growth
16.1%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
45,700
New + replacement
Typical Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based

National Wage Spread

Annual wages for Industrial Machinery Mechanics across all experience levels, nationwide.

10th pct
$45,090
Median
$63,760
90th pct
$92,730
Middle 50% of workers earn $52,710$78,070

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Wages by State

Median annual wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics by state, sorted highest to lowest. Click any state to see registered sponsors and local programs.

State Median Wage vs. National Employment Sponsors
Alaska $86,590 +36% 660 341
District of Columbia $85,380 +34% 190 145
Hawaii $80,180 +26% 760 216
Nevada $75,490 +18% 2,460 119
Washington $75,220 +18% 10,300 434
Wyoming $74,510 +17% 2,290 143
California $73,840 +16% 25,790 1375
Colorado $73,770 +16% 5,850 963
Connecticut $73,530 +15% 2,980 1711
New Jersey $73,000 +14% 9,110 2555
Oregon $71,430 +12% 6,490 249
Massachusetts $70,540 +11% 6,290 849
Kansas $70,170 +10% 6,570 515
Montana $69,880 +10% 890 776
Utah $69,670 +9% 3,920 436
Minnesota $68,160 +7% 6,650 495
New York $67,010 +5% 12,630 823
Illinois $66,770 +5% 9,460 959
Indiana $65,670 +3% 17,700 1307
Delaware $65,560 +3% 1,040 518
Maine $65,190 +2% 1,420 370
Iowa $65,090 +2% 5,860 1537
North Dakota $65,070 +2% 2,760 149
Arizona $64,840 +2% 4,450 669
Wisconsin $64,520 +1% 14,500 1308
Maryland $64,080 +1% 3,070 695
Kentucky $64,060 +0% 10,420 642
Rhode Island $63,870 +0% 1,020 710
Louisiana $63,830 +0% 5,900 372
Pennsylvania $63,830 +0% 18,500 1844
Ohio $63,650 -0% 20,180 805
Nebraska $63,130 -1% 2,730 316
Michigan $63,030 -1% 18,850 1559
Virginia $62,940 -1% 9,500 2435
Tennessee $62,830 -1% 10,100 802
Idaho $62,570 -2% 1,780 491
Oklahoma $62,530 -2% 6,240 249
Vermont $62,520 -2% 710 530
Texas $61,590 -3% 57,150 1964
West Virginia $61,400 -4% 3,160 359
New Hampshire $61,360 -4% 2,140 647
Missouri $61,270 -4% 4,450 1231
South Carolina $61,260 -4% 9,520 1114
North Carolina $60,860 -5% 15,650 1189
Alabama $60,390 -5% 17,110 664
Florida $60,340 -5% 13,820 1447
Georgia $60,100 -6% 13,010 568
South Dakota $59,690 -6% 1,270 225
New Mexico $59,420 -7% 2,730 99
Arkansas $58,410 -8% 6,770 404
Mississippi $57,220 -10% 5,010 213

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Overview

The Industrial Machinery Mechanic trade offers a median salary of $63,760/yr nationally, accessible through a 4-year apprenticeship that pays you while you train. It's one of the clearest earn-while-you-learn propositions in the American labor market.

Looking ahead, Industrial Machinery Mechanic employment is expected to grow 16.1% by 2034. About 45,700 openings per year — driven heavily by retirements in an aging workforce — keep demand for apprentices high.

The wage range for Industrial Machinery Mechanics runs from $45,090 (entry-level markets) to $92,730 (experienced workers in top-paying states). Location, union membership, and specialization all push wages higher.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but some people prefer the classroom-first path. Industrial Machinery Mechanics also come up through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost, and a credential before entering the workforce.

Compare 66 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs →

Or jump straight to a specific school:

Other Apprenticeship Trades

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database.