The line doesn't stop. Neither do you.
Plant maintenance, machine operation, industrial mechanics — the people who keep American manufacturing actually running. This guide breaks down real pay by experience level and what actually moves the number.
Industrial / Manufacturing
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks this trade under "industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights" — that category posted a median annual wage of $63,510 as of May 2024, the most recent OEWS data available. The BLS also projects employment growth of 13% from 2024 to 2034 — much faster than average, with about 54,200 openings projected each year.
Entry level ($17–22/hr) is where most people start in this trade — typically through a formal apprenticeship, trade school program, or on-the-job training under a journeyman.
Journeyman ($26–38/hr) is where independent, unsupervised work authority kicks in — the point where most of the trade's workforce sits.
Master / top end ($40–55+/hr) covers senior specialists and crew leads — the people called in when the job is too complex or too urgent for anyone else.
Millwrights typically go through a 4-year apprenticeship and are compensated for that added precision skillset.
Reshoring and federal manufacturing investment (CHIPS Act and beyond) are pushing wages up across the sector.
Techs who combine mechanical, electrical, and PLC troubleshooting are the hardest to replace — and the best paid.
Round-the-clock plant operations mean overtime and shift differential can add meaningfully to base pay.
“Nobody sees the line running smooth and thinks about the crew that keeps it that way. You know better.”
— A day in the life, Industrial / Manufacturing
Two-way street. Workers get matched to real openings. Employers get first look at qualified industrial / manufacturing talent before we go public with the board.
Jobs In Industrial is one of 13 trade-specific sites in the Careers In Trades network.