Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Virginia

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.

VA Median Salary
$62,940/yr
-1% vs. national
National Median
$63,760/yr
VA Employment
9,500
Industrial Machinery Mechanics employed
VA Sponsors
11
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 Virginia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered industrial machinery mechanic apprenticeship in Virginia 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.

Virginia pay vs. national

Median industrial machinery mechanic wages in Virginia are $62,940/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

Virginia has 11 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 — Virginia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Virginia Wage Spread

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

10th pct
$44,420
Median
$62,940
90th pct
$87,140
Middle 50% of workers earn $51,060$77,740

Current Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in Virginia

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

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

Organization City County
EASTERN MILLWRIGHT REGIONAL COUNCIL Charles City
ELECTRIC MOTOR AND CONTRACTING CO. INC. Chesapeake Chesapeake
HBH INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, INC. Chesapeake Chesapeake
Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America Chesapeake Chesapeake City
Belvac Production Machinery Lynchburg Lynchburg City
CARTER MACHINERY CO INC Mechanicsville Hanover County
Liebherr Mining Equipment Newport News Co. Newport News Newport News City
G.D.PACKAGE MACHINERY Richmond Richmond City
CARTER MACHINERY COMPANY, INC. Salem
Carter Machinery Company Inc, Salem Salem City
Wabtec Graham-White Manufacturing Co. Salem Salem City
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Industrial Machinery Mechanic openings

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

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in Virginia

Program availability in Virginia is moderate: 11 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 Virginia?
Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Virginia earn a median salary of $62,940/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?
The standard Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship is 4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Industrial Machinery Mechanics?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship in Virginia?
Our directory surfaces 11 Industrial Machinery Mechanic-related registered sponsors in Virginia. 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?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In Virginia, a first-year Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprentice might earn around $31,470/yr (roughly half the $62,940 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year 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 66 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs nationwide →
Too few Virginia-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Virginia

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