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Advanced ManufacturingTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.Green JobOccupation aligned to O*NET green economy classifications.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic

Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.

Annual openings

673

Median wage

$75,600

Typical education

High school (GED)

Growth 2026–2032

+13%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

High school (GED)

Credential requirement

Credential requirements not reported

Work experience

No previous work experience is required. However, previous experience with large machines or repairing machines is a bonus as is a mechanical training course. Most employers will offer on-the-job training and some will have apprenticeships.

Do you love to tinker with the large appliances around your house? Is a fixer-upper your idea of a fun weekend project? As an industrial machinery mechanic, you’ll put these handy skills to work in the real world. Your work environment will be the production floor, where you’ll spend your days repairing and maintaining large pieces of manufacturing equipment such as conveying systems, production machinery, and packaging equipment.
Using your own set of tools, you’ll diagnose and repair any issues related to the function of large, industrial machines. Most of your work will involve mechanical or electrical pieces, so you’ll need a solid grasp of how the machine’s systems work in order to properly solve the problem. You’ll be working with other mechanics and technicians and reporting to a maintenance supervisor on the repairs you’ve made. You might be asked to file reports in order to keep track of mechanical problems.
Your job will involve heavy equipment and parts, so you’ll need to be able to lift and hold a large amount of weight. You’ll need good eyesight and physical dexterity. Because many of the machines are so large, you’ll need to be comfortable with heights, small, enclosed spaces, and the dark.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerNo
  • OutdoorsMay vary
  • With your handsYes

Interests it draws on

  • Trades
  • Mechanics

Automation exposure

High exposure

Many tasks are repeatable, so technology could reshape the day-to-day over time.

A typical day

  1. Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.
  2. Disassemble machinery or equipment to remove parts and make repairs.
  3. Examine parts for defects, such as breakage or excessive wear.
  4. Record repairs and maintenance performed.
  5. Operate newly repaired machinery or equipment to verify the adequacy of repairs.
  6. Observe and test the operation of machinery or equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using voltmeters or other testing devices.
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