Best institutions to study Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair and maintain industrial machinery and equipment such as cranes, pumps, engines and motors, pneumatic tools, conveyor systems, production machinery, marine deck machinery, and steam propulsion, refinery, and pipeline-distribution systems.
268 U.S. institutions graduated 9,155 Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 47.0303, a specialization of Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.03), and leads most directly to the Industrial Machinery Mechanics occupation (BLS SOC 49-9041).
About Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair and maintain industrial machinery and equipment such as cranes, pumps, engines and motors, pneumatic tools, conveyor systems, production machinery, marine deck machinery, and steam propulsion, refinery, and pipeline-distribution systems.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician program prepares students to apply technical knowledge and skills in the repair and maintenance of industrial machinery and equipment. This program is ideal for individuals interested in working with various types of machinery, including cranes, pumps, and conveyor systems, in industrial settings. Students will gain hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge, making them well-equipped for careers in the mechanic and repair technologies field. With a focus on practical skills, this program caters to those seeking a dynamic and rewarding career in industrial maintenance.
Core coursework includes critical skills such as mechanical knowledge, problem-solving, and effective communication. Students will learn to repair and maintain machinery, understand production processes, and apply engineering principles, ensuring they are prepared for the demands of the industry.
Credentials awarded
What Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year5,025 graduates / yr · 162 institutions55%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2,133 graduates / yr · 144 institutions23%
- Associate's degree1,373 graduates / yr · 129 institutions15%
- Award of less than 12 weeks315 graduates / yr · 10 institutions3.4%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years309 graduates / yr · 22 institutions3.4%
Graduates over time
Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4,414 |
| 2013 | 4,042 |
| 2014 | 4,565 |
| 2015 | 5,061 |
| 2016 | 5,413 |
| 2017 | 6,639 |
| 2018 | 7,405 |
| 2019 | 7,712 |
| 2020 | 7,890 |
| 2021 | 7,803 |
| 2022 | 7,476 |
| 2023 | 7,687 |
| 2024 | 8,061 |
| 2025 | 9,155 |
Top 50 institutions for Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 474 | 43% | — | $65,743 |
| 2 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 375 | 58% | — | $61,026 |
| 3 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 303 | 59% | — | $59,458 |
| 4 | Georgia Northwestern Technical College Rome, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 249 | 43% | — | $62,982 |
| 5 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 234 | 40% | — | — |
| 6 | Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 228 | 54% | — | $56,300 |
| 7 | Gadsden State Community College Gadsden, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 224 | 38% | — | $37,595 |
| 8 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 222 | 39% | — | — |
| 9 | J F Ingram State Technical College Deatsville, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 176 | 21% | — | — |
| 10 | Jefferson Community and Technical College Louisville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 172 | 35% | — | $59,047 |
| 11 | Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 170 | 38% | — | — |
| 12 | Southern Union State Community College Wadley, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 162 | 36% | — | — |
| 13 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 158 | 35% | — | — |
| 14 | Somerset Community College Somerset, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 153 | 43% | — | $55,793 |
| 15 | Universal Technical Institute - Canton Canton, MIPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 151 | 64% | $22,762 | $44,800 |
| 16 | Central Community College Grand Island, NEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 138 | 48% | — | — |
| 17 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 131 | 43% | — | — |
| 18 | Gateway Community and Technical College Florence, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 123 | 59% | — | $69,378 |
| 19 | Great Basin College Elko, NVPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 102 | 41% | — | — |
| 20 | West Georgia Technical College Waco, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 97 | 35% | — | — |
| 21 | Northwest Shoals Community College Muscle Shoals, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 96 | 39% | — | — |
| 22 | Universal Technical Institute of Texas Inc. Houston, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 83 | 60% | $22,532 | — |
| 23 | Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of less than 12 weeks | 80 | 38% | — | — |
| 24 | Philadelphia Technician Training Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 79 | 50% | $22,992 | $19,794 |
| 25 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Shelbyville Shelbyville, TNPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 75 | 81% | — | $52,115 |
| 26 | Lanier Technical College Gainesville, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 73 | 34% | — | — |
| 27 | Lakeshore Technical College Cleveland, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 73 | 50% | — | — |
| 28 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 72 | 21% | — | — |
| 29 | Rend Lake College Ina, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 72 | 63% | — | $61,677 |
| 30 | Northeast Alabama Community College Rainsville, ALPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 70 | 56% | — | — |
| 31 | San Joaquin Valley College - Modesto Salida, CAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 69 | 77% | $25,571 | $55,314 |
| 32 | Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 67 | 47% | — | — |
| 33 | Barstow Community College Barstow, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 66 | 39% | — | — |
| 34 | Portland Community College Portland, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 66 | 18% | — | — |
| 35 | Davis Technical College Kaysville, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 66 | 57% | — | — |
| 36 | Madison Area Technical College Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 64 | 29% | — | — |
| 37 | Metropolitan Community College Area Omaha, NEPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 63 | 29% | — | — |
| 38 | Savannah Technical College Savannah, GAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 62 | 42% | — | — |
| 39 | Milwaukee Area Technical College Milwaukee, WIPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 62 | 25% | — | — |
| 40 | Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas De Queen, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 61 | 54% | — | — |
| 41 | College of the Sequoias Visalia, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 61 | 39% | — | — |
| 42 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro Murfreesboro, TNPublicAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 61 | 76% | — | $57,632 |
| 43 | Hopkinsville Community College Hopkinsville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate'sAward of less than 12 weeks | 60 | 45% | — | — |
| 44 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Dickson Dickson, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 59 | 74% | — | $54,320 |
| 45 | Bridgerland Technical College Logan, UTPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 59 | 75% | — | — |
| 46 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest Newbern, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 58 | 69% | — | $53,226 |
| 47 | Maysville Community and Technical College Maysville, KYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 57 | 56% | — | $44,198 |
| 48 | Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Minden, LAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 56 | 77% | — | — |
| 49 | Snead State Community College Boaz, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 55 | 49% | — | — |
| 50 | Tyler Junior College Tyler, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 55 | 27% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 47.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 39 states & territories
Where Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician graduates come from. Each state links to all Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 49-9041, Industrial Machinery Mechanics, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights, among others. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 16.1% and approximately 45,700 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is around $63,760, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 47.0303
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Industrial Machinery Mechanicsprimary SOC 49-9041 | $64,520 | +16.1% Much faster than average | ~45,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Maintenance Workers, Machinery SOC 49-9043 | $60,850 | -2.8% Decline | ~4,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door SOC 49-9012 | $74,340 | +1.3% Little or no change | ~3,900 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Millwrights SOC 49-9044 | $65,700 | 0.0% Little or no change | ~3,600 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Wind Turbine Service Technicians SOC 49-9081 | $64,120 | +49.9% Much faster than average | ~2,300 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers SOC 47-4021 | $109,910 | +5.0% Faster than average | ~2,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons SOC 49-9045 | $61,290 | -16.9% Decline | ~100 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations 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 these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.
- Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.
- Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery.
- Disassemble machinery or equipment to remove parts and make repairs.
- Reassemble equipment after completion of inspections, testing, or repairs.
- Examine parts for defects, such as breakage or excessive wear.
Tools and technology used
Other Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.03).
Common questions
What types of equipment will I learn to maintain?+
You will learn to maintain various industrial machinery, including cranes, pumps, engines, and conveyor systems.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, mechanical knowledge, and effective communication.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Graduates can work as Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 16.1% and around 45,700 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician?+
Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician is CIP 47.0303 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.03). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair and maintain industrial machinery and equipment such as cranes, pumps, engines and motors, pneumatic tools, conveyor systems, production machinery, marine deck machinery, and steam propulsion, refinery, and pipeline-distribution systems.
How many institutions offer Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician programs?+
268 U.S. institutions reported Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 39 states & territories, awarding 9,155 credentials in the year. That is 90.8% of all Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Industrial Machinery Mechanics occupation, which Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology/Technician most directly leads to, pays a median of $64,520 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $53,226 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduates, so its figures match the Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians program page.
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