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Industrial Mechanic
Skilled TradesYou keep factory equipment running, which means you fix machines that break in creative ways, perform maintenance on equipment that never gets turned off, and troubleshoot problems that multiple mechanics before you couldn't solve. You work in plants where the noise is deafening, the environment is extreme, and the production schedule won't wait for you to order parts. You improvise, adapt, and fix things with whatever's on hand.
Salary Range
Low
$40k
Median
$58k
High
$80k
10-Year Growth
average
US Workers
360K
Education
Trade school or apprenticeship + industrial maintenance certification
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Industrial equipment repair (pumps, gearboxes, conveyors)
- ▸Electrical troubleshooting (motors, drives, sensors)
- ▸Hydraulic and pneumatic system diagnostics
- ▸Preventive and predictive maintenance programs
- ▸CMMS software (Maximo, Fiix, eMaint)
- ▸Welding and fabrication for emergency repairs
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Troubleshooting under pressure
- ▸Mechanical intuition
- ▸Physical stamina and dexterity
- ▸Teamwork in noisy environments
- ▸Safety discipline
What you'll actually do
- 01Troubleshoot equipment breakdowns using electrical schematics, hydraulic diagrams, and educated guesses
- 02Replace bearings, seals, belts, and motors on machines that were supposed to last 20 years but it's been 35
- 03Perform preventive maintenance on production lines that can't be shut down during the day shift
- 04Fabricate replacement parts when the manufacturer went out of business in 2004 and there's no aftermarket
- 05Respond to emergency breakdowns with tools in hand and the entire production team staring at you
- 06Document repairs in a CMMS system between emergencies — if you have time, which you usually don't
Related Shifts
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