Who's on the clock?

Industrial Machinery Mechanics vs Machinery Maintenance Workers

Industrial machinery mechanics spend 6m of a shift on tasks AI or robots touch; machinery maintenance workers spend 49m. Here is how pay, outlook and training compare.

Time card for industrial machinery mechanics: 6m of an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsTime card: Industrial Machinery Mechanics →

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Industrial machinery mechanics or machinery maintenance workers: which will AI change more? AI and robots touch more of the day for machinery maintenance workers: 49m of an 8-hour shift, against 6m for industrial machinery mechanics. Industrial machinery mechanics earn more, a median of $64,520 against $60,850.

The two jobs share very close skills, including installation, repairing, equipment maintenance, so moving between them is realistic for many people.

Industrial Machinery Mechanics
6mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robotsLess AI time
  • 7h 54mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 6mAI mostly does it alone
  • 0mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$64,520
U.S. workers
440,000
Outlook to 2035
+17.8%
Openings a year
44,000
Typical preparation
Vocational school or associate's degree
See the full time card →
Machinery Maintenance Workers
49mof an 8-hour shift touched by AI or robots
  • 7h 11mDone by people
  • 0mPeople do it with AI's help
  • 0mAI mostly does it alone
  • 49mRobots have done it somewhere
Median pay
$60,850
U.S. workers
60,000
Outlook to 2035
-1.9%
Openings a year
4,400
Typical preparation
Vocational school or associate's degree
See the full time card →

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Enter codes and instructions to program computer-controlled machinery. 6m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment. 1h 23m
  • Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment. 1h 17m
  • Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery. 53m

Machinery Maintenance Workers

Where AI or robots show up most

  • Transport machine parts, tools, equipment, and other material between work areas and storage, using cranes, hoists, or dollies. 25m
  • Inventory and requisition machine parts, equipment, and other supplies so that stock can be maintained and replenished. 18m
  • Measure, mix, prepare, and test chemical solutions used to clean or repair machinery and equipment. 6m

Biggest tasks still done by people

  • Dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists. 55m
  • Install, replace, or change machine parts and attachments, according to production specifications. 55m
  • Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work. 49m

Swap in a different job Highlighted numbers are the higher of the two. Hours are estimates from each job's time card.