Maintenance Worker, Machinery
Impact: Operational efficiency,Safety,Production continuity
Inspects, maintains, and repairs industrial machinery and mechanical equipment to ensure optimal operational efficiency and safety. Diagnoses malfunctions, performs preventative maintenance, and replaces defective parts.
In their words
As a maintenance worker, every day brings a new challenge. One moment you're troubleshooting a hydraulic leak, the next you're recalibrating a precision sensor. It's physically demanding and requires a sharp mind for diagnostics, but there's immense satisfaction in getting a critical machine back online. Safety is paramount, and continuous learning is key to keeping up with evolving technology.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 60% Team / 40% Solo
- Client facing
- Rarely
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Minimal local travel
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $65,000
- Entry-level
- $40,000 - $55,000
- Senior
- $75,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 4% (average)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- Moderate 50-80% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- Minimal
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Troubleshooting
- Preventive maintenance
- Welding
- Hydraulics
- Pneumatics
- Blueprint reading
- Electrical systems
- Diagnostic tools
Soft skills
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Mechanical aptitude
- Communication
- Time management
Technical complexity: High
Tools you'll work with
Core tools
- Multimeter (hardware): Electrical diagnostics
- Wrenches and Sockets (hardware): Fastener manipulation
- Diagnostic Software (software): Machine fault analysis
- Safety Lockout/Tagout Devices (hardware): Safety procedure enforcement
Common tools
- Welding Equipment (hardware): Metal repair and fabrication
- Hydraulic Press (hardware): Component assembly/disassembly
- CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) (software): Work order management
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Certificate or Vocational Training
- Licensing
- Varies by State
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5 years
- Years to senior
- 7-10 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- Industrial Electrician: Strong electrical skills are highly transferable to machinery maintenance.
- Welder: Fabrication and repair skills are directly applicable to machinery components.
- HVAC Technician: Experience with complex mechanical systems and diagnostics is valuable.
Where you can go from here
- Maintenance Supervisor: Progression to a leadership role overseeing maintenance teams.
- Facilities Manager: Broader responsibility for overall plant or building operations and maintenance.
- Field Service Technician: Specializing in on-site repair and support for specific machinery manufacturers.
Typical progression
- Maintenance Worker > Senior Maintenance Worker > Maintenance Supervisor > Facilities Manager
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 60% moderate risk
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 6.8/10
- Meaning
- 6.5/10
- Work-life balance
- 7/10
- Prestige
- 5.5/10
- Social perception
- Moderate
Find your community
Professional organisations
- Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP): A global community for maintenance, reliability, and physical asset management professionals.
Podcasts and media
- Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operations Magazine: Provides news, articles, and resources for maintenance and plant operations professionals.
Reddit communities
- r/Maintenance: An online community for maintenance technicians and engineers to share knowledge and discuss issues.
Online communities
- Reliabilityweb.com: Offers articles, webinars, and resources on reliability engineering and asset management.