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Sector

Careers in Industrial Machinery Manufacturing

Machinery and equipment manufacturing builds industrial equipment across many applications. Hybrid work possible for engineering and technical roles, with moderate credentials.

1.1M
U.S. jobs
In this sector
$63K
Median salary
Across all roles
Industrial Machinery Manufacturing jobs by metro area
Bubble size = total employment
Industrial Machinery Manufacturing employment by metro ยท ~393 areas
1.Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA14K
2.New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ14K
3.Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN13K
4.Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI12K
5.Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX11K

Jobs per 100K workforce โ€” measures industry density

1.Columbus, IN1,458.9
2.Elkhart-Goshen, IN1,378.9
3.Sheboygan, WI1,020.8
4.Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI815.6
5.Fond du Lac, WI756.5
BLS OEWS May 2024
Understanding this Sector
What it's like to work in Industrial Machinery Manufacturing

Machinery and equipment manufacturing builds industrial machines โ€” there's satisfaction in precision manufacturing, solving production challenges for customers, and making equipment other industries depend on. Many find meaning in enabling production.

The challenge can come from technical demands and customer expectations. Industrial machinery requires precision and reliability. Customers expect equipment that performs flawlessly. Order backlogs fluctuate; hiring follows demand. Field service may require travel.

The field varies by machinery type and company size. Specialized equipment differs from general industrial machinery. Large manufacturers operate differently than job shops or niche builders. Engineering roles differ from production, assembly, or service.

For those who thrive here, the rewards are genuine: technical manufacturing, problem-solving, often steady demand across industrial sectors, and building machines that work. If you enjoy machinery, want technical manufacturing careers, and like solving production challenges, equipment manufacturing offers solid opportunities.

How people break in

Assembly and machining for production. Engineering for design and applications. Service technician paths.

Work environment tends toward
Engineering focusService revenueCustom applicationsB2B salesTechnical products
Industries it connects to
ManufacturingConstructionAgricultureMining
Salary vs. national average
-12%
$63K median vs. $71K national
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0K$15K$38K$150K$239K*387 metro areas across 50 states, sorted by salary level โ†’
Salary range across all industrial machinery manufacturing roles
Where your dollar goes furthest
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$93K
2. Boulder$78K
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$75K
4. Trenton-Princeton$71K
5. Durham-Chapel Hill$70K
BLS OEWS May 2024
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.

Median salaries range from ~$71K in mid-market metros to ~$105K in top-tier cities. But cost of living closes a lot of that gap โ€” metros with lower regional price parities often offer the best purchasing power.

Highest paying
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $105K
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ยท $89K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $81K
Best purchasing power
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara ยท $93K adj.
Boulder ยท $78K adj.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ยท $75K adj.
Most jobs
New York ยท 22.4M
Los Angeles ยท 14.9M
Chicago ยท 11.2M
BLS OEWS May 2024 ยท BEA Regional Price Parities

What the data says about this sector

Beyond salary and job counts โ€” signals that shape the day-to-day experience of working in Industrial Machinery Manufacturing.

๐Ÿšช
Annual Quit Rate
Based on all Manufacturing data
18%
People tend to stay in Manufacturing. Lower turnover often indicates better working conditions or higher switching costs.
โ†“ 4%vs. 22% all industries
๐Ÿข
Typical Employer Size
Small-skewed
Small businesses dominate. More variety in roles but less formal structure and benefits.
79%
Small
<50
17%
Mid
50โ€“249
4%
Large
250+
๐Ÿ 
Remote / Hybrid Prevalence
Hybrid common
Many roles can be done remotely. Location flexibility is a realistic expectation.
Mostly on-siteHybrid commonRemote-first
๐Ÿ“‹
Credential Density
Moderate
Most roles don't require formal credentials. Skills and experience matter more than certificates.
Few credentialsSome requiredMany required
๐Ÿค
Union Presence
Based on all Manufacturing data
~9%
Minimal union coverage means compensation is individually negotiated. Know your market rate going in.
โ†“ 9%vs. 11% all industries
BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Union Members Summary 2024
Career Tracks

Career tracks in Industrial Machinery Manufacturing

How jobs in this sector break down by function, and what they typically pay.

Maintenance & Repair
10%
$56K median
Explore โ†’
Admin & Office
8%
$64K median
Explore โ†’
Engineering
8%
$83K median
Explore โ†’
Business Operations
8%
$78K median
Explore โ†’
Production
7%
$55K median
Explore โ†’
Transportation
7%
$54K median
Explore โ†’
Median salary for occupations employed within Industrial Machinery Manufacturing. BLS OEWS May 2024.

Explore careers in Industrial Machinery Manufacturing

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) ยท BLS JOLTS 2024 ยท BLS QCEW 2024 ยท O*NET Work Context ยท BLS Employment Projections 2024โ€“2034
Truest editorial: Industry narrative, sector context, career track mapping, working signals analysis.