What does an industrial mechanic do?

An industrial mechanic maintains and repairs equipment and any other industrial types of machinery in a factory. Industrial mechanics manage the operation of machinery like production machinery, packaging equipment, and conveying systems. They need to use protective equipment like safety glasses and hardhats as well as follow safety precautions during operations. It is their responsibility to make sure that all industrial machines function well through preventive maintenance service and troubleshooting.
Industrial mechanic responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real industrial mechanic resumes:
- Organize a procedure for rapid plumbing repairs by proactively devising a solid inventory system for effectively managing spare parts and tools.
- Work on airport baggage conveyor systems including troubleshooting PLC problems
- Used lathes, welding equipment, hoists and lifts.
- Monitor comfort controls, fire safety, lighting, and HVAC equipment.
- Have training in the Herzig arc flash electrical safety and PPE standards.
- Correct electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, welding, and PLC problems.
- Design and engineering replacement parts using AutoCAD, then send it to CNC machine.
- Perform all duties associate with advance quality surveillance, safety adherence, and GMP practices
- Perform daily procedures of plasma cutting, mig welding of steel/aluminum and air arcing/torch cutting.
- Engineer specialized metal parts using the lathe, CNC, milling machines, and welding techniques.
- Repair or replace hydraulic hoses, pumps cylinders, cables, gearboxes, frames and control unit.
- Overhaul all types of building ventilation systems, HVAC systems, air compressors, lighting and flooring tasks.
- Perform regular preventative maintenance on all equipment, including forklifts, aisle cranes, conveyors, and other distribution center equipment.
- Employ wide variety of hand and power tools including hoists, drills, precision measuring instruments and pneumatic air driven devices.
- Require to line gearboxes, couplings and motors within true running tolerance, so that it would reduce wear on parts.
Industrial mechanic skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Industrial Mechanics are proficient in Industrial Maintenance, Hand Tools, and PLC. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Dexterity, and Troubleshooting skills.
We break down the percentage of Industrial Mechanics that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Industrial Maintenance, 12%
Light industrial maintenance in furniture factory.
- Hand Tools, 10%
Disassembled the equipment to remove defective parts by using cranes, power and hand tools, hoists and safety lock-out devices.
- PLC, 5%
Blister Machine and Bottles Lines, Operator Mechanical start up, PLC repair in general PM
- Mechanical Equipment, 5%
Ensured the smooth operation of industrial mobile equipment and mechanical equipment.
- HVAC, 3%
Repaired pumps And compressors, Electrician tech, HVAC and A/C technician, Plumbing.
- Mechanical Troubleshooting, 3%
Perform all electrical and mechanical troubleshooting and repairs.
Common skills that an industrial mechanic uses to do their job include "industrial maintenance," "hand tools," and "plc." You can find details on the most important industrial mechanic responsibilities below.
Troubleshooting skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of industrial mechanics is troubleshooting skills. This skill is critical to many everyday industrial mechanic duties, as "industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights must observe, diagnose, and fix problems that a machine may be having." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "performed troubleshooting and maintenance for hydraulic systems. "
Manual dexterity. industrial mechanic responsibilities often require "manual dexterity." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights must have a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination when handling very small parts." This resume example shows what industrial mechanics do with manual dexterity on a typical day: "follow blueprints, schematics, and maintenance manuals using hand tools and testing instruments to locate cause of trouble. "
Mechanical skills. Another crucial skill for an industrial mechanic to carry out their responsibilities is "mechanical skills." A big part of what industrial mechanics relies on this skill, since "industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights use technical manuals and sophisticated diagnostic equipment to figure out why machines are not working." How this skill relates to industrial mechanic duties can be seen in an example from an industrial mechanic resume snippet: "repaired mechanical problems of all plant equipment, mechanical drive systems and pneumatic and hydraulic systems. "
The three companies that hire the most industrial mechanics are:
- Menards18 industrial mechanics jobs
- UPS16 industrial mechanics jobs
- Midwest Manufacturing9 industrial mechanics jobs
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Industrial mechanic vs. Building maintenance technician
A building maintenance technician is an individual who takes responsibility for keeping the repair tools and other supplies in good condition. Building maintenance technicians make sure that a facility operates pretty well. The technicians need to familiarize the security of the buildings. They maintain buildings through repairs and safety checks. It is their job to care for industrial and commercial facilities and determine maintenance needs. Some of them are in charge of the landscape and perform primary janitorial work.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of an industrial mechanic are more likely to require skills like "production machines," "production equipment," "hydraulic systems," and "conveyor systems." On the other hand, a job as a building maintenance technician requires skills like "customer service," "osha," "dexterity," and "troubleshoot." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Building maintenance technicians really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $42,815. Comparatively, industrial mechanics tend to make the most money in the transportation industry with an average salary of $56,878.The education levels that building maintenance technicians earn slightly differ from industrial mechanics. In particular, building maintenance technicians are 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an industrial mechanic. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Industrial mechanic vs. Facility maintenance technician
A facility maintenance technician is responsible for inspecting the safety and security of the facilities, including the operational tools, equipment, and machinery, to avoid potential hazards in the production area and maintain timely project deliverables. Facility maintenance technicians perform a regular check on the equipment, identifying glitches and inconsistencies, and repairing defective components to avoid delays in operation. They also install and assemble new machines, requiring them to have comprehensive knowledge of reading schematics and blueprints. A facility maintenance technician records incident reports and suggests immediate safety actions to management.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, industrial mechanic responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "production machines," "safety standards," "cranes," and "preventive maintenance." Meanwhile, a facility maintenance technician has duties that require skills in areas such as "customer service," "osha," "maintenance tasks," and "good communication." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, facility maintenance technicians earn a lower salary than industrial mechanics. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, facility maintenance technicians earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $45,090. Whereas industrial mechanics have higher pay in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $56,878.In general, facility maintenance technicians achieve similar levels of education than industrial mechanics. They're 1.3% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Industrial mechanic vs. Preventive maintenance technician
A preventive maintenance technician performs routine facility maintenance to prevent possible mechanical failure. The technicians change worn out machine parts before they can cause mechanical damage. They keep the facility operating. It is their job to conduct quality assessments, maintain inventory, and schedule repairs. Also, they see to it that machines are up and running at all times. They are expected to be equipped with skills in customer service, problem-solving, reading comprehension, business operation, and mechanical aptitude.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, industrial mechanics are more likely to have skills like "industrial maintenance," "mechanical troubleshooting," "production machines," and "conveyor systems." But a preventive maintenance technician is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "dishwashers," "water filters," and "osha."
Preventive maintenance technicians earn the best pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $47,655. Industrial mechanics earn the highest pay from the transportation industry, with an average salary of $56,878.When it comes to education, preventive maintenance technicians tend to earn similar degree levels compared to industrial mechanics. In fact, they're 0.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Industrial mechanic vs. Automotive service technician
Automotive service technicians, often called service technicians, have a duty to inspect, maintain, and repair cars and even light trucks. It is their job as automotive service technicians to find problems, often by computerized diagnostic equipment. They do test parts and systems to guarantee that they work properly and follow checklists to ensure that every critical part is examined. Performing basic care and maintenance is also part of their main tasks, including changing oil, rotating tires, and checking fluid levels.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between industrial mechanics and automotive service technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an industrial mechanic might have more use for skills like "industrial maintenance," "plc," "mechanical equipment," and "mechanical troubleshooting." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of automotive service technicians require skills like "customer service," "dexterity," "manual dexterity," and "customer satisfaction. "
Automotive service technicians enjoy the best pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $38,929. For comparison, industrial mechanics earn the highest salary in the transportation industry.automotive service technicians reach similar levels of education compared to industrial mechanics, in general. The difference is that they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of industrial mechanic
Updated January 8, 2025











