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Maintenance Workers, Machinery In Demand

General Information

Description

Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.

Business Breakdown

People in this career work in these sectors.

  1. Private, for profit89.58%
  2. State and local government4.01%
  3. Federal government3.53%
  4. Private, not for profit1.52%
  5. Self-employed1.36%

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Industry areas

  • Manufacturing

Job Outlook

Projected Job Growth (2022 - 2032)
+13%
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Job Outlook

×

Overall employment of industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights is projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 49,100 openings for industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

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      • Cargo specialists ensure the safe and efficient transfer of supplies needed by service members worldwide. They are responsible for transferring or supervising the transfer of cargo to and from air, land, and water vehicles by manual and mechanical methods. They also plan and organize loading schedules. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Weapons Maintenance Technicians
      • Weapons maintenance technicians are responsible for servicing and maintaining the Military’s weapons and ordnance support equipment. They ensure these assets are fully operational at all times. These experts plan, organize, and perform every service necessary to keep these systems in pristine working condition so they are ready when needed. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Power Plant Electricians
      • Power plant electricians in the Military maintain and repair electricity-generating equipment in mobile and stationary power plants. They may work in power generation plants on land or aboard ships and submarines. They maintain different types of electrical power-generating equipment, such as transmission lines and receiving structures, and hydraulic-electric systems that support reactor plant operation. They also diagnose and repair circuit boards that validate accurate electricity readings. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Power Plant Mechanics
      • Power plant mechanics install, maintain, and repair mechanical equipment in power-generating stations. They maintain various types of power-generating equipment on land, ships, and submarines. They also support the mobile utility equipment that the Military provides as portable, temporary sources of electricity. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Water and Sewage Treatment Plant Operators
      • Military bases operate their own water treatment plants, which provide drinking water and safely dispose of sewage when public facilities cannot be used. Water and sewage treatment plant operators control processes and equipment that remove pollutants from the water so that it is safe to drink and can be returned safely to natural areas or be reused. Water and sewage treatment plant operators run the equipment, control the processes, and monitor the plants that treat the water. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Artillery and Missile Crew Members
      • Artillery and missile crew members target, fire, and maintain weapons used to destroy enemy positions, aircraft, and vessels. The specific duties they perform vary by the type of combat operations they support. Field artillery crew members predominantly use guns, cannons, and howitzers in ground combat operations; air defense artillery crew members predominantly use missiles and rockets; and, naval artillery crew members predominantly use torpedoes and missiles launched from a ship or submarine. Crew members may also coordinate joint fire missions and operate sophisticated targeting equipment. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Automotive and Heavy Equipment Mechanics
      • After ensuring adequate manpower, supplies, and workspace are available, automotive and heavy equipment mechanics maintain and repair various vehicles and systems. They determine the overall mechanical condition of vehicles and heavy equipment, diagnose malfunctions, and initiate restorative actions related to equipment in their area of responsibility. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Heavy Equipment Mechanics
      • Heavy equipment mechanics specialize in the maintenance and repair of heavy equipment, such as tanks and other combat vehicles. They maintain and repair construction equipment, including equipment used for earthmoving, grading and compaction, lifting and loading, quarrying and rock crushing, asphalt/concrete mixing and surfacing, and water pumping, as well as special purpose equipment, including power generation equipment and air conditioning/refrigeration systems. They also supervise and perform diagnostic troubleshooting to determine maintenance repair criteria. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Construction Equipment Operators
      • Construction equipment operators control or manage the use of bulldozers, cranes, graders, drilling rigs, and other heavy equipment in military construction. They manage daily activities devoted to the construction and maintenance of runways, aircraft parking aprons, roads, and wooden, metal, and concrete buildings. They direct and coordinate the efforts of crews in the use of earth moving, quarrying, well digging, mixing, asphalt batching, and paving equipment. They also oversee demolition efforts and ensure adherence to environmental regulations. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Electrical Instrument and Equipment Repairers
      • Electrical instrument and equipment repairers install, maintain, and repair instruments and equipment, including communications equipment, radar and sonar systems, tactical data systems, and computers. They use a variety of approaches to troubleshoot and replace faulty components, subassemblies, and assemblies to restore instruments and equipment to optimum operating condition. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Fleet Maintenance Managers
      • Fleet maintenance managers supervise and coordinate the repair and maintenance of the Military’s airplanes, ships, trucks, and other vehicles. They establish maintenance schedules, develop work procedures, and direct the operation of maintenance crews. They manage machine and maintenance shops. From repairing equipment damaged in battle to providing preventive maintenance, these managers are critical for keeping the Military’s fleet strong. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Fuel Supply Specialists
      • Fuel supply specialists receive, store, inventory, issue, and ship various fuel products, including petroleum, alternate fuel, and cryogenic products. They manage, maintain, and operate fuel support equipment used for base and tactical operations. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with all safety and environmental regulations. They perform analyses to ensure the quality of fuels and lubricants. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Machinists
      • Machinists perform various duties incident to fabrication, repair, or modification of machinery components or other metallic and non-metallic parts. They are experienced machine tool operators who use a variety of equipment and devices, such as lathes, drill presses, grinders, and other machine shop equipment. They may also utilize computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment, as well as computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided machining (CAM) software. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Marine Equipment Mechanics
      • The Military operates many types of watercraft from small motor launches to large ships, many of which are powered by gasoline or diesel engines. These vessels also contain mechanical and electrical systems that are critical to their overall operation. It is the job of marine equipment mechanics to maintain and operate these systems. Navigate to Military Career Page
    • Weapon Repair Officers
      • Weapon repair and maintenance officers manage the activities and personnel engaged in the maintenance and repair of the Military’s weapons, from small arms to nuclear missiles, and their associated equipment. They oversee inspections, inventory, check-out procedures, and shop operations. These officers must have expert knowledge in the design, operation, and safe shipment and employment of military weapons. Navigate to Military Career Page
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Salary

Salary Information

Median Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$53,310

State-by-state Salary

Gray states indicate no data available

Salary Range Salary varies based on years of experience, degree level and location.

$20,110
$80,720
No Information for this section

Education & Interests

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • High school 39%
  • Some college 25%
  • Post-secondary certificate 21%
  • Associate's degree 10%
  • Less than high school 3%
  • Master's degree 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Bachelor's degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS

You may find this career fulfilling if you consider yourself to be:

  • Realistic — You have an interest in physically working with equipment, materials or structures.
  • Conventional — You have an interest in following procedures and regulations to organize information or data.
  • Investigative — You have an interest in studying and researching objects, organisms, and other things.

Not sure what characteristics best describe you? Take the RIASEC Test.

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership

Knowledge

  • Mechanical
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Mathematics
  • Building and Construction
  • Design

Gain insights into your knowledge by using the ASVAB Career Exploration Program

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.