Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in California

Wages, programs & career outlook

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.

CA Median Salary
$73,840/yr
+16% vs. national
National Median
$63,760/yr
CA Employment
25,790
Industrial Machinery Mechanics employed
CA Sponsors
12
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
16.1%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
45,700
Nationally, per yr

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in California: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered industrial machinery mechanic apprenticeship in California combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

California pay vs. national

Median industrial machinery mechanic wages in California are $73,840/year, +16% above the national median of $63,760. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

California has 12 registered apprenticeship sponsors for industrial machinery mechanic listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16.1% job growth for industrial machinery mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 45,700 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — California-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

California Wage Spread

Annual wages for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in California across all experience levels.

10th pct
$47,420
Median
$73,840
90th pct
$109,760
Middle 50% of workers earn $58,740$88,410

Current Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in California

No industrial machinery mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for California. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in California

12 industrial machinery mechanic-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for California. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current industrial machinery mechanic apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT ( POWER HOUSE GENERAL MECHANIC) El Centro
LYONS MAGNUS AND CENTRAL VALLEY MAINTENANCE APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE Fresno
PRODUCERS DAIRY/CENTRAL VALLEY MAINTENANCE APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE Fresno
CITY OF GLENDALE - POWER PLANT MECHANIC J A C Glendale
OPERATING & MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINING TRUST FUND FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Los Angeles
Operating & Maintenance Engineers JATC Los Angeles Los Angeles County
AZTECA MILLING AND CENTRAL VALLEY MAINTENANCE APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE Madera
SEALED AIR/CENTRAL VALLEY MAINTENANCE APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE Madera
O'NEILL VINTNERS & DISTILLERS AND CENTRAL VALLEY MAINTENANCE APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE Parlier
SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED JOINT APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE San Diego
CALIFORNIA STATE STATIONARY ENGINEERS JOINT APPRENTICESHIP COMMITTEE San Francisco
Operating Engineers JATC for 46 Northern Counties in CA Sloughhouse Sacramento County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Industrial Machinery Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-9041 and state CA for the most relevant results.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in California

Program availability in California is moderate: 12 Industrial Machinery Mechanic-related sponsors in our directory. Candidates in major cities will find multiple options; those in smaller markets may need to commute or relocate within the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average Industrial Machinery Mechanic salary in California?
The median annual wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in California is $73,840 as of May 2024. Wages range from $47,420 at the 10th percentile to $109,760 at the 90th percentile.
How long is an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship?
A typical Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Industrial Machinery Mechanics?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Industrial Machinery Mechanics, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship in California?
Our directory surfaces 12 Industrial Machinery Mechanic-related registered sponsors in California. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $36,920/yr in California). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Industrial Machinery Mechanics also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs in California →
Or see all 66 programs nationwide.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in California

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