Career comparison
Industrial Maintenance Technician vs. Mechatronics Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Mechatronics technicians earn more at the median ($73,900 vs. $64,520), while industrial maintenance technicians usually get to work faster (1–4 years of training). Industrial maintenance technicians keep factory machinery running with mechanical, electrical and PLC troubleshooting. Mechatronics technicians install and fix automated systems that combine mechanics, electronics and controls.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Industrial Maintenance Technician | Mechatronics Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $64,520 ($31.02/hr) | $73,900 ($35.53/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $46,120 – $95,170 | $47,840 – $109,890 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +17.8% (much faster than average) | +2.6% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 44,400 | 1,400 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Associate's degree |
| Training time | 1–4 years | 2 years |
| Key credential | CMRT (SMRP) | Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification |
| Work setting | Technicians work in manufacturing plants, warehouses, food processing facilities and utilities. | Technicians work in factories, warehouses and labs, around moving machinery.. |
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
Mechatronics Technician
- Install automated equipment
- Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical faults
- Program and adjust PLCs
- Maintain robots and sensors
- Repair motors and drives
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, problem-solving, indoor work, and shift work. They sit in different fields, mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing and science, engineering & lab, but share transferable skills such as problem-solving under pressure and problem solving.
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 mechatronics technician if…
- I like robots and automation
- I enjoy troubleshooting
- I like both mechanical and electrical work
Still torn? Take the Industrial Maintenance Technician fit quiz and the Mechatronics Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, industrial maintenance technician or mechatronics technician?
Mechatronics Technicians earn more at the median: $73,900 versus $64,520 for industrial maintenance technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Industrial Maintenance Technicians typically train faster (1–4 years) than mechatronics technicians (2 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects industrial maintenance technicians to grow +17.8% from 2025–35, compared with +2.6% for mechatronics technicians.