Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Tennessee

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.

TN Median Salary
$62,830/yr
-1% vs. national
National Median
$63,760/yr
TN Employment
10,100
Industrial Machinery Mechanics employed
TN Sponsors
7
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 Tennessee: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered industrial machinery mechanic apprenticeship in Tennessee 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.

Tennessee pay vs. national

Median industrial machinery mechanic wages in Tennessee are $62,830/year, -1% below the national median of $63,760. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Tennessee has 7 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 — Tennessee-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Tennessee Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$42,360
Median
$62,830
90th pct
$83,820
Middle 50% of workers earn $50,380$75,870

Current Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Tennessee

No industrial machinery mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Tennessee. 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 Tennessee

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

Organization City County
Tennessee Millwrights Regional Council JATC Local 1554 Chattanooga Hamilton County
Toyota Boshoku Tennessee LLC. (TBTN) Jackson
Operating Engineers Local No. 917 Apprenticeship & Training Fund Knoxville Mcminn County
CHEROKEE MILLWRIGHT INC. Maryville Blount County
CHEROKEE MILLWRIGHT-ELECTRICAL INC Maryville Blount County
Cherokee Millwright Maryville
Dodge Industrial Rogersville Hawkins County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Industrial Machinery Mechanic openings

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

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Tennessee

The 7 Industrial Machinery Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Tennessee mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Industrial Machinery Mechanics earn in Tennessee?
Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Tennessee earn a median salary of $62,830/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $63,760 for the trade.
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 Tennessee?
Our directory surfaces 7 Industrial Machinery Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Tennessee. 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 $31,415/yr in Tennessee). 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 Tennessee →
Or see all 66 programs nationwide.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Tennessee

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