Career comparison
Industrial Maintenance Technician vs. Machinery Maintenance Worker
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Industrial maintenance technicians earn more at the median ($64,520 vs. $60,850), while machinery maintenance workers usually get to work faster (A year or more on the job of training). Industrial maintenance technicians keep factory machinery running with mechanical, electrical and PLC troubleshooting. Machinery maintenance workers lubricate, clean and do routine repairs on factory machines.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Industrial Maintenance Technician | Machinery Maintenance Worker | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $64,520 ($31.02/hr) | $60,850 ($29.25/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,120 – $95,170 | $42,000 – $88,550 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +17.8% (much faster than average) | -1.9% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 44,400 | 4,400 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 1–4 years | A year or more on the job |
| Key credential | CMRT (SMRP) | MLT I |
| Work setting | Technicians work in manufacturing plants, warehouses, food processing facilities and utilities. | Workers are on factory floors, often in noisy, oily areas.. |
What each job does
Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on equipment
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic problems
- Repair or replace bearings, belts, motors, pumps and gearboxes
- Read schematics, prints and PLC ladder logic
- Align shafts and adjust machinery
Machinery Maintenance Worker
- Lubricate machinery
- Change belts and filters
- Clean equipment
- Inspect for wear
- Make minor adjustments
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, indoor work, and shift work. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose industrial maintenance technician if…
- I like figuring out how machines work and why they break
- I’m comfortable with both mechanical and electrical work
- I can stay calm when production is down
Choose machinery maintenance worker if…
- I like machines
- I don’t mind getting dirty
- I’m reliable
Still torn? Take the Industrial Maintenance Technician fit quiz and the Machinery Maintenance Worker fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, industrial maintenance technician or machinery maintenance worker?
Industrial Maintenance Technicians earn more at the median: $64,520 versus $60,850 for machinery maintenance workers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Machinery Maintenance Workers typically train faster (A year or more on the job) than industrial maintenance technicians (1–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects industrial maintenance technicians to grow +17.8% from 2025–35, compared with -1.9% for machinery maintenance workers.