Career profile for Industrial Equipment Mechanic

What does an Industrial Equipment Mechanic do?

Industrial Equipment Mechanics repair, test, adjust, or install electronic equipment, such as industrial controls, transmitters, and antennas.

What kind of tasks does an Industrial Equipment Mechanic perform regularly?

Industrial Equipment Mechanics are often responsible for overseeing or executing some or all of the following tasks:

Test faulty equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test equipment or software, and applying knowledge of the functional operation of electronic units and systems.
Maintain equipment logs that record performance problems, repairs, calibrations, or tests.
Set up and test industrial equipment to ensure that it functions properly.
Inspect components of industrial equipment for accurate assembly and installation or for defects, such as loose connections or frayed wires.
Install repaired equipment in various settings, such as industrial or military establishments.
Operate equipment to demonstrate proper use or to analyze malfunctions.
Enter information into computer to copy program or to draw, modify, or store schematics, applying knowledge of software package used.
Perform scheduled preventive maintenance tasks, such as checking, cleaning, or repairing equipment, to detect and prevent problems.
Calibrate testing instruments and installed or repaired equipment to prescribed specifications.
Repair or adjust equipment, machines, or defective components, replacing worn parts, such as gaskets or seals in watertight electrical equipment.
Consult with customers, supervisors, or engineers to plan layout of equipment or to resolve problems in system operation or maintenance.
Study blueprints, schematics, manuals, or other specifications to determine installation procedures.
Maintain inventory of spare parts.
Examine work orders and converse with equipment operators to detect equipment problems and to ascertain whether mechanical or human errors contributed to the problems.
Coordinate efforts with other workers involved in installing or maintaining equipment or components.
Develop or modify industrial electronic devices, circuits, or equipment, according to available specifications.
Determine feasibility of using standardized equipment or develop specifications for equipment required to perform additional functions.
Advise management regarding customer satisfaction, product performance, or suggestions for product improvements.
Send defective units to the manufacturer or to a specialized repair shop for repair.

The above responsibilities are specific to Industrial Equipment Mechanics. More generally, Industrial Equipment Mechanics are involved in several broader types of activities:

Activities	Importance	Details
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment		Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems		Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Working with Computers		Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Documenting/Recording Information		Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events		Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment

Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Working with Computers

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Documenting/Recording Information

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

What is an Industrial Equipment Mechanic salary?

The median salary for an Industrial Equipment Mechanic is $62,010, and the average salary is $63,350. Both the median and average roughly describe the middle of the Industrial Equipment Mechanic salary range, but the average is more easily affected by extremely high or low salaries.

Many Industrial Equipment Mechanics earn significantly more or less than the average, due to several factors. About 10% of Industrial Equipment Mechanics earn less than $39,160 per year, 25% earn less than $50,030, 75% earn less than $75,130, and 90% earn less than $87,970.

Between the years of 2020 and 2030, the number of Industrial Equipment Mechanics is expected to change by 4.6%, and there should be roughly 4,700 open positions for Industrial Equipment Mechanics every year.

Median annual salary: $62,010
Typical salary range: $39,160 - $87,970
Projected growth (2020 - 2030): 4.6%

What personality traits are common among Industrial Equipment Mechanics?

Interests

Career interests describe a person's preferences for different types of working environments and activities. When a person's interest match the demands of an occupation, people are usually more engaged and satisfied in that role.

Compared to most occupations, those who work as an Industrial Equipment Mechanic are usually higher in their Realistic, Investigative, and Conventional interests.

Industrial Equipment Mechanics typically have very strong Realistic interests. Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Also, Industrial Equipment Mechanics typically have strong Investigative interests. Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Lastly, Industrial Equipment Mechanics typically have moderate Conventional interests. Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Values

People differ in their values, or what is most important to them for building job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Compared to most people, those working as an Industrial Equipment Mechanic tend to value Support, Working Conditions, and Independence.

Most importantly, Industrial Equipment Mechanics moderately value Support. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Second, Industrial Equipment Mechanics moderately value Working Conditions. Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions.

Lastly, Industrial Equipment Mechanics moderately value Independence. Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions.

Psychological Demands

Each occupation brings its own set of psychological demands, which describe the characteristics necessary to perform the job well.

In order to perform their job successfully, people who work as Industrial Equipment Mechanics must consistently demonstrate qualities such as dependability, attention to detail, and analytical thinking.

Below, you'll find a list of qualities typically required of Industrial Equipment Mechanics, ranked by importance:

Demands	Importance	Details
Dependability		Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail		Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Analytical Thinking		Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Independence		Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Initiative		Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Dependability

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Analytical Thinking

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Independence

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Initiative

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

What education and training do Industrial Equipment Mechanics need?

Industrial Equipment Mechanics often have training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Industrial Equipment Mechanics usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with this occupation.

Educational degrees among Industrial Equipment Mechanics

8.3% did not complete high school or secondary school
30.1% completed high school or secondary school
30.8% completed some college coursework
16.9% earned a Associate's degree
13.0% earned a Bachelor's degree
0.7% earned a Master's degree
0.2% earned a doctorate or professional degree

Knowledge and expertise required by Industrial Equipment Mechanics

Industrial Equipment Mechanics may benefit from understanding of specialized subject areas, such as computers and electronics, mechanical, or production and processing knowledge.

The list below shows several areas in which most Industrial Equipment Mechanics might want to build proficiency, ranked by importance.

Knowledge areas	Importance	Details
Computers and Electronics		Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Mechanical		Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Production and Processing		Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Customer and Personal Service		Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mathematics		Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Computers and Electronics

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Mechanical

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Customer and Personal Service

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Important Abilities needed by Industrial Equipment Mechanics

Industrial Equipment Mechanics must develop a particular set of abilities to perform their job well. Abilities are individual capacities that influence a person's information processing, sensory perception, motor coordination, and physical strength or endurance. Individuals may naturally have certain abilities without explicit training, but most abilities can be sharpened somewhat through practice.

For example, Industrial Equipment Mechanics need abilities such as problem sensitivity, information ordering, and near vision in order to perform their job at a high level. The list below shows several important abilities for Industrial Equipment Mechanics, ranked by their relative importance.

Abilities	Importance	Details
Problem Sensitivity		The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Information Ordering		The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Near Vision		The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension		The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Deductive Reasoning		The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Critical Skills needed by Industrial Equipment Mechanics

Skills are developed capacities that enable people to function effectively in real-world settings. Unlike abilities, skills are typically easier to build through practice and experience. Skills influence effectiveness in areas such as learning, working with others, design, troubleshooting, and more.

Industrial Equipment Mechanics frequently use skills like operations monitoring, repairing, and critical thinking to perform their job effectively. The list below shows several critical skills for Industrial Equipment Mechanics, ranked by their relative importance.

Skills	Importance	Details
Operations Monitoring		Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Repairing		Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Critical Thinking		Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Equipment Maintenance		Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting		Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Repairing

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

What is the source of this information?

The information provided on this page is adapted from data and descriptions published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration under the CC BY 4.0 license. TraitLab has modified some information for ease of use and reading, and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this information, please send a message.

Career profile Industrial Equipment Mechanic

Industrial Equipment Mechanic

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