Trade Career Comparison

Which trade career fits you best?

Industrial Mechanic

Maintain and repair factory equipment, conveyor systems, and production machinery.

$59,840/yr median

$38,320$80,710

Faster Than AvgHeavyUnion: ModerateEntry: Moderate

Training Path

Apprenticeship or trade school (1-4 years)

Environment

Indoor

Outlook

Faster Than Avg (+6%)

BLS Code

49-9041

Pros

✓Strong demand in manufacturing, food processing, warehousing, and other industries that rely on machinery and automated systems.
✓Stable employment — factories and production facilities run year-round, providing more consistent work than seasonal construction trades.
✓Diverse skill set combining mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and welding capabilities.
✓Indoor work in plant environments, avoiding the weather exposure common in construction trades.
✓Good wages with regular hours and benefits, especially at larger manufacturers and unionized facilities.

Cons

✗Working around operating industrial machinery creates real hazards — lockout/tagout procedures exist because the consequences of getting them wrong are severe.
✗Shift work and on-call duties are common — production lines do not only break down during business hours.
✗The work can be greasy, dirty, and physically demanding, involving heavy lifting and working in confined or awkward spaces around equipment.
✗Pressure to minimize downtime can create stressful situations when machines break down during production runs.
✗Some facilities have noise, dust, chemical, or temperature extremes that are part of the working environment.

What the Life Is Like

Industrial mechanics (also called maintenance mechanics or maintenance technicians) keep factory and plant equipment running. Your day might start with reviewing work orders, then proceed to replacing a motor on a conveyor belt, troubleshooting a hydraulic press that is running slow, performing preventive maintenance on a CNC machine, and responding to a breakdown call on the packaging line. The work is varied and requires you to think on your feet.

Schedules depend on the facility. Some plants run day shifts only, while 24/7 operations require rotating shifts. On-call duty is common — being the person who answers the phone at 2 AM when the production line goes down. The urgency of getting equipment back online creates both pressure and satisfaction. The culture in maintenance departments tends to be practical and problem-solving oriented, with experienced mechanics passing down knowledge to newer workers.

Physically, the work ranges from moderate to heavy. You use hand and power tools daily, work on your feet, lift parts and components, and occasionally work in uncomfortable positions to access hard-to-reach equipment. The mental side is equally important — you need to understand mechanical systems, electrical circuits, fluid power, and increasingly, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and industrial automation. The combination of hands-on mechanical work and technical problem-solving is what draws many people to this trade.

How to Get Started

Complete an industrial maintenance or mechatronics program

Community colleges and trade schools offer 1-2 year programs covering mechanical systems, electrical fundamentals, hydraulics, pneumatics, welding, and industrial controls. Mechatronics programs are increasingly popular as they combine mechanical and electronic skills.

Apply for entry-level maintenance positions

Look for maintenance helper, maintenance technician I, or entry-level industrial mechanic positions at manufacturing facilities, warehouses, food processing plants, or packaging companies. Larger facilities often have structured training programs for new hires.

Consider a formal apprenticeship

Some companies and unions offer structured industrial maintenance apprenticeships lasting 2-4 years. These combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically result in higher starting wages upon completion.

Pursue industry certifications

Certifications from organizations like the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) or specific technical credentials in areas like PLC programming, welding, or vibration analysis validate your skills and support career advancement.

Advance into reliability engineering or management

With experience, industrial mechanics can move into reliability technician roles (predictive maintenance using vibration analysis, thermography, and oil analysis), maintenance supervision, or plant engineering. These positions offer higher pay and less physical work.

Felony Record & Licensing

Generally Accessible

No individual license required. Manufacturing employers increasingly adopt fair-chance hiring.

Industrial Mechanic is one of the more accessible trades for people rebuilding after a conviction.

Training Funding & Support

Pell Grants Are Available Again

As of July 2023, the FAFSA no longer asks about drug convictions. The FAFSA Simplification Act restored Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. If a past drug conviction kept you from financial aid before, you can apply again.

WIOA Workforce Funding

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds free job training, career counseling, and supportive services (transportation, work clothes, childcare) for people reentering the workforce. Contact your local American Job Center (careeronestop.org) to see what's available in your area.

Ban-the-Box & Fair Chance Hiring

Over 37 states and 150+ cities have "ban-the-box" or fair chance hiring laws that prevent employers from asking about criminal history on job applications. Many require waiting until after an interview or conditional job offer. These laws are expanding rapidly — check your state's specific rules.

Licensing laws vary by state and change frequently. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Always verify with your state's licensing board before enrolling in a training program.

Data last verified March 2026 · View sources

We verify our data against official sources. Verification dates show when we last checked — they do not guarantee the information is still current. Laws, rates, and thresholds can change at any time. Always confirm critical information at the official source or with a qualified professional.

National Employment Law Project (NELP) — Fair Chance Hiring

General trade accessibility levels for people with felony convictions — categorized as generally-accessible, varies-by-state, often-restricted, or highly-restricted

https://www.nelp.org/policy-issue/criminal-records-and-employment/

Verified March 2026

trade-schools.net — Jobs for Felons

Trade accessibility and reentry employment guidance for specific trades

https://www.trade-schools.net/articles/jobs-for-felons

Verified March 2026

Hire Felons — Reentry Employment Guide

Employer reentry hiring policies and trade accessibility for people with felony convictions

https://www.hirefelons.org/

Verified March 2026

ASE — About ASE Testing

ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.ase.com/certification-series/

Verified March 2026

OSHA — Powered Industrial Trucks

OSHA forklift certification — employer-provided, no criminal history screening

https://www.osha.gov/powered-industrial-trucks

Verified March 2026

EPA — Section 608 Technician Certification

EPA Section 608 refrigerant certification — no criminal history screening

https://www.epa.gov/section608

Verified March 2026

Federal Student Aid — FAFSA Simplification Act

Pell Grant eligibility restored for people with drug convictions and incarcerated individuals, effective July 1, 2023; PELL_GRANT_RESTORED_DATE: "July 2023"

FAFSA Simplification Act, Pub. L. 117-103 (2021); 20 U.S.C. § 1070a

https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-simplification

Verified March 2026

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) — Ban the Box Legislation

Ban-the-box and fair chance hiring laws — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities as of 2026; BAN_THE_BOX_STATE_COUNT: 37; BAN_THE_BOX_CITY_COUNT: 150

https://www.ncsl.org/labor-and-employment/ban-the-box-legislation

Verified March 2026

NELP — Ban the Box: U.S. Cities, Counties, and States

Fair chance hiring law coverage — 37+ states + DC + 150+ localities; BAN_THE_BOX_PRIVATE_EMPLOYER_STATES: ["California", "Illinois", "New Jersey", "Washington"]

https://www.nelp.org/publication/ban-the-box-fair-chance-hiring-state-and-local-guide/

Verified March 2026

U.S. Department of Labor — Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO)

WIOA Section 169 workforce funding for reentry — job training, career counseling, and supportive services

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. § 3224; WIOA Sec. 169

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/reentry

Verified March 2026

Legal Information Institute — 18 U.S.C. § 922

18 U.S.C. § 922(g) — federal prohibition on felons possessing firearms, effectively barring law enforcement careers

18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

Verified March 2026