Clean off buildup, then lubricate
Wipe away the buildup first, then apply the exact lubricant the maintenance instructions call for.
Career profile
Machinery Maintenance Worker
Machinery maintenance workers keep equipment running by cleaning, lubricating and replacing parts on a schedule.
Enjoy hands-on work with a clear task list? Consider a role built from small upkeep jobs that get machines ready for the following shift.
A day in the life
Swap out a worn part
Read the work order first, then take off the old part using hand tools and install the replacement.
Flag damage before the repair
You examine a damaged part and show your supervisor exactly where it's worn or faulty.
Log the work you did
Enter the upkeep you finished and each part you replaced into that machine's repair record.
Quick facts
High school + job training
United States · 2025
$60,850/year
United States · May 2025
1.9% decline
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
High school + job trainingA diploma or equivalent is typical, followed by long-term training on the job.
Pay
$60,850/yearNational median, equivalent to $29.25 an hour.
Outlook
1.9% declineEmployment is projected to shrink slightly, with about 4,400 openings a year on average.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy working with tools and fitting parts together.
- You can repeat a checklist without skipping familiar steps.
- You notice small signs of wear.
Things to weigh
- Noise, long periods standing, and awkward reaches can make the work tiring.
- Industrial equipment can cause serious injuries; protective gear and safety procedures are part of everyday work.
Where AI may help
Software can organize maintenance records. Predictive maintenance uses equipment-condition information to help decide when work is needed.
What people still lead
You still handle parts, clean equipment, and check its physical condition.
What we can’t predict yet
The balance between scheduled upkeep and condition-triggered work may shift. Some employers may also give more routine maintenance to industrial machinery mechanics.
Pay in context
Earnings
Use these figures to compare offers, then ask what the actual hours and duties include.
The national midpoint
The median was $60,850 a year, or $29.25 an hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less; this is not a starting salary.
The wider spread
The lowest-paid 10% earned $42,000 or less, and the highest-paid 10% earned $88,550 or more annually. These are wage percentiles, not beginner and expert pay grades.
Workplace type matters
In May 2023, average annual pay was $58,540 in motor vehicle parts manufacturing and $56,020 in warehousing and storage. These older industry averages provide context, not current offers.
Openings despite a small decline
About 4,400 openings are projected annually during 2025–2035, even as employment falls 1.9%. Openings include replacing people who leave the occupation.
Getting started
Learn in an entry maintenance job
- What the route involves
- Learn cleaning, lubrication, machine setup, and hand-tool use from workplace trainers.
- What it can lead to
- Build the skills to carry out routine care on your employer's equipment.
- What to check
- This role generally handles minor repairs; industrial machinery mechanics take on major repairs.
Build skills in a maintenance certificate
- What the route involves
- Study machinery, preventive maintenance, electricity, and industrial safety. Clackamas Community College offers a certificate with this mix.
- What it can lead to
- Gain practice with tools and machine systems before applying for industrial maintenance work.
- What to check
- College preparation still leaves equipment-specific learning to do on the job.
A high school diploma or equivalent is the usual starting point. Employers differ in how much practical preparation they expect.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Learn the care routines for your site's machines, including cleaning, lubrication, and safe tool use.
Build consistency
Become reliable at parts changes and inspections, and recognize wear that keeps returning.
Move toward deeper repairs
Further training in electrical systems and troubleshooting can help you work toward industrial machinery mechanic roles.
Where you can work
Food-production plants
Routine care sits alongside breakdown work on production equipment. You share machine-condition records with coworkers, and some plants staff maintenance at night.
- Indoors
- Shift work
- Safety-sensitive
Conveyor service companies
You work on customers' conveyor systems, combining scheduled care with unexpected repair calls. Some mining-related service jobs take the crew underground.
- Field work
- Physical demands
- Safety-sensitive
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Find a maintenance manual for a machine that interests you. Turn one page into a checklist showing what gets inspected, cleaned, or replaced and when. Notice whether you enjoy turning detailed instructions into a repeatable routine.
Stay safe: Keep this a paper exercise; do not open or service powered machinery.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Maintenance Workers, Machinery — 49-9043.00. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Machinery Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Maintenance Workers, Machinery: 2025 wages, United States rows. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Table 1.2 Occupational projections, 2025–35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages: Maintenance Workers, Machinery. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Clackamas Community College. Industrial Maintenance Technology, Certificate — 2026–2027 Catalog. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Cargill. Maintenance Technician — Newnan, Georgia, requisition 332918. Accessed 2026-10-03.
- Continental. Mechanical Technician — Veyance Industrial Services, West Virginia. Accessed 2026-10-03.