How much does a maintenance mechanic make?
a year · about $29 an hour
A typical maintenance mechanic in the United States makes $60,850 a year, about $29 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A maintenance mechanic checks work orders, inspects a machine, then cleans, oils, tests it, or replaces worn parts. They record the work and handle small repairs, while major breakdowns go to an industrial machinery mechanic.
Did you know? Some maintenance mechanics take machines apart using chain hoists, jacks, or cranes to reach parts that need repair.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $42,000 and $88,550How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school or its equivalent; some hazardous machinery work is restricted to people 18 and older. Then learn on the job beside experienced workers, often for a few months to a year; vocational training can help you prepare.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and useful training or credentials can help a maintenance mechanic earn more. Pay also differs by employer, industry, location, task difficulty, and whether the job involves overtime or night and weekend shifts.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Kentucky ($76,710), lowest in Indiana ($48,760).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $42,000 | $60,850 | $88,550 | about 60,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $76,710 | about 3,000 |
| Nevada | $75,500 | about 750 |
| California | $67,840 | about 4,000 |
| New York | $67,610 | about 3,000 |
| Virginia | $65,500 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance. Excludes “Maintenance and Repair Workers, General” (49-9071).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/industrial-machinery-mechani
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/49-9043.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY