Jobs Similar to Industrial Machinery Mechanics
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to industrial machinery mechanics, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Maintenance Workers, Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers and Hydroelectric Plant Technicians.
Industrial Machinery Mechanics: $64,520 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Industrial Machinery Mechanics) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maintenance Workers, MachinerySame group | 84% | $60,850−6% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | 82% | $56,210−13% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 82% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 4 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | 82% | $65,510+2% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | 82% | $79,870+24% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 82% | $50,140−22% | High school |
| 7 | Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | 82% | $73,900+15% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorSame group | 81% | $74,340+15% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment | 81% | $74,090+15% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Rail Car Repairers | 81% | $67,530+5% | High school |
| 11 | Geothermal TechniciansSame group | 81% | $49,230Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 12 | Machinists | 81% | $58,750−9% | Training or associate |
| 13 | Robotics Technicians | 81% | $73,900Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 14 | Wind Turbine Service TechniciansSame group | 81% | $64,120−1% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 81% | $38,760−40% | High school |
| 16 | Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | 81% | $61,770−4% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 81% | $50,690−21% | High school |
| 18 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 81% | $78,620+22% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 80% | $49,080−24% | High school |
| 20 | Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | 80% | $50,060−22% | High school |
- 1Maintenance Workers, Machinery
84% similar · $60,850 (−6%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
82% similar · $56,210 (−13%) · Training or associate
- 3Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
82% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 4Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
82% similar · $65,510 (+2%) · Training or associate
- 5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
82% similar · $79,870 (+24%) · Training or associate
- 6Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
82% similar · $50,140 (−22%) · High school
- 7Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
82% similar · $73,900 (+15%) · Training or associate
- 8Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
81% similar · $74,340 (+15%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 9Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
81% similar · $74,090 (+15%) · Training or associate
- 10Rail Car Repairers
81% similar · $67,530 (+5%) · High school
- 11Geothermal Technicians
81% similar · $49,230 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 12Machinists
81% similar · $58,750 (−9%) · Training or associate
- 13Robotics Technicians
81% similar · $73,900 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 14Wind Turbine Service Technicians
81% similar · $64,120 (−1%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 15Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
81% similar · $38,760 (−40%) · High school
- 16Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
81% similar · $61,770 (−4%) · Training or associate
- 17Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
81% similar · $50,690 (−21%) · High school
- 18Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
81% similar · $78,620 (+22%) · Training or associate
- 19Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
80% similar · $49,080 (−24%) · High school
- 20Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
80% similar · $50,060 (−22%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than industrial machinery mechanics.
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians82% similar · $79,870 (+24%)
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators81% similar · $78,620 (+22%)
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians82% similar · $73,900 (+15%)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door81% similar · $74,340 (+15%)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment81% similar · $74,090 (+15%)
- Rail Car Repairers81% similar · $67,530 (+5%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic82% similar · High school
- Rail Car Repairers81% similar · High school
- Geothermal Technicians81% similar · High school
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders81% similar · High school
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators81% similar · High school
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic80% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for industrial machinery mechanics also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where industrial machinery mechanics is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (92)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (92)
- Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians (88)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (85)
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers (85)
- Machinists (85)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (84)
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (83)
- Rail Car Repairers (83)
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (82)
Questions about jobs like industrial machinery mechanics
What jobs are most similar to industrial machinery mechanics?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Maintenance Workers (84% similar), Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers (82% similar), Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (82% similar), Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics (82% similar) and Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (82% similar).
Which jobs like industrial machinery mechanics pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians ($79,870, +24%; usually training or an associate degree), Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators ($78,620, +22%; usually training or an associate degree) and Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians ($73,900, +15%; usually training or an associate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with industrial machinery mechanics ($64,520). Without more preparation than industrial machinery mechanics usually need: Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators and Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.