Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights held about 506,900 jobs in 2018. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights was distributed as follows:
| Industrial machinery mechanics | 381,500 |
| Maintenance workers, machinery | 81,100 |
| Millwrights | 44,300 |
The largest employers of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights were as follows:
| Manufacturing | 53% |
| Wholesale trade | 10 |
| Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance | 9 |
| Construction | 6 |
Injuries and Illnesses
Working with industrial machinery can be dangerous. To avoid injury, workers must follow safety precautions and use protective equipment, such as hardhats, safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, gloves, and earplugs.
Work Schedules
Most industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers are employed full time during regular business hours. However, mechanics may be on call and work night or weekend shifts. Overtime is common, particularly for mechanics.
Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights typically need a high school diploma. Industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers also usually need a year or more of training after high school.
Most millwrights go through an apprenticeship program that lasts about 4 years.
Education
Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights generally need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some mechanics and millwrights complete a 2-year associate’s degree program in industrial maintenance. Industrial maintenance programs may include courses such as welding, mathematics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.
Training
Industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers typically receive more than a year of on-the-job training. Industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers learn how to perform routine tasks, such as setting up, cleaning, lubricating, and starting machinery. They also may be instructed in subjects such as shop mathematics, blueprint reading, proper hand tool use, welding, electronics, and computer programming. This training may be offered on the job by professional trainers hired by the employer or by representatives of equipment manufacturers.
Most millwrights learn their trade through a 3- or 4-year apprenticeship. For each year of the program, apprentices must have at least 144 hours of relevant technical instruction and up to 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training. On the job, apprentices learn to set up, clean, lubricate, repair, and start machinery. During technical instruction, they are taught welding, mathematics, how to read blueprints, and machinery troubleshooting. Many also receive computer training.
After completing an apprenticeship program, millwrights are considered fully qualified and can usually perform tasks with less guidance.
Employers, local unions, contractor associations, and the state labor department often sponsor apprenticeship programs. The basic qualifications for entering an apprenticeship program are as follows:
- Minimum age of 18
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Physically able to do the work
Industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers and millwrights typically have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.
If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as an industrial machinery mechanic and maintenance worker and millwright, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers and millwrights should also possess the following specific qualities:
Manual dexterity . When handling very small parts, workers must have a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination.
Mechanical skills . Workers must be able to reassemble large, complex machines after finishing a repair.
Technical skills . Industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers and millwrights use technical manuals and sophisticated diagnostic equipment to figure out why machines are not working.
Troubleshooting skills . Industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers and millwrights must observe and properly diagnose and fix problems that a machine may be having.
The median annual wage for industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights was $52,860 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $33,760, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $79,150.
Median annual wages for industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights in May 2019 were as follows:
| Millwrights | $55,560 |
| Industrial machinery mechanics | 53,590 |
| Maintenance workers, machinery | 47,520 |
In May 2019, the median annual wages for industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Manufacturing | $53,130 |
| Construction | 52,860 |
| Wholesale trade | 51,410 |
| Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment (except automotive and electronic) repair and maintenance | 48,350 |
Most industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers are employed full time during regular business hours. However, mechanics may be on call or assigned to work night or weekend shifts. Overtime is common, particularly for mechanics.
Overall employment of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Employment growth will vary by occupation.
The increased adoption of sophisticated manufacturing machinery will require more mechanics and millwrights to keep machines in good working order. Increased automation, including the use of many computer-controlled machines in factories and manufacturing plants, should raise the demand for machinery maintenance workers in order to keep the machines functioning properly. The increased use of machinery in manufacturing will require millwrights to install and disassemble this equipment, as well as perform some repair work on it.
Job Prospects
Job prospects will be good, particularly for applicants with a broad range of skills in machine repair as older workers retire or otherwise leave the occupation.
For information about industrial machinery mechanics and machinery maintenance workers, visit
National Association of Manufacturers
Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals
For information about millwrights and the precision-machined products industry, training, and apprenticeships, visit
Precision Machined Products Association
For further information on apprenticeship programs, write to the Apprenticeship Council of your state’s labor department or to local firms that employ machinery mechanics and repairers. Apprenticeship information is also available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship program online or by phone at 877-872-5627.