Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Same credentials, same experience — different city, different paycheck. The national median salary for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in 2026 is $66,342, with entry-level positions averaging $47,766 and senior roles reaching $94,205. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $120,840, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Industrial Machinery Mechanic falls within the Skilled Trades sector, specifically in Installation & Maintenance. The typical education path involves High school + training. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is factory — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$73,530 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Industrial Machinery Mechanic in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $120,840 — $73,530 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($47,310). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The salary distribution for Industrial Machinery Mechanics reveals a $46,439 spread from entry to senior. At $66,342, the median sits $14,025 below the national median household income of $80,367. Context matters: this is an individual salary, compared against household income. The P10 floor of $47,766 represents early-career or part-time positions, while the $94,205 ceiling captures experienced professionals in premium markets.
State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $112,860 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $47,690. That $65,170 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For a career with that education requirement, the pay trajectory is strong.
A Industrial Machinery Mechanic in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $120,840 — $73,530 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($47,310). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Industrial Machinery Mechanic is $47,766, while senior-level (P90) earners average $94,205. That $46,439 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $47,766 | $66,342 | $94,205 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £26,254 | £36,464 | £51,779 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$40,183 | CA$55,810 | CA$79,250 |
| Australia | 13 | A$49,114 | A$68,213 | A$96,863 |
| Sweden | 24 | 275,437 kr | 382,551 kr | 543,222 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $57,651 | $80,071 | $113,701 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $55,712 | $77,378 | $109,876 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $55,404 | $76,950 | $109,269 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $51,300 | $71,250 | $101,175 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $50,684 | $70,395 | $99,961 |
| Washington | 8 | $49,710 | $69,041 | $98,039 |
| New York | 5 | $46,785 | $64,980 | $92,271 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $46,786 | $64,980 | $92,272 |
| Florida | 22 | $46,431 | $64,488 | $91,573 |
| Colorado | 11 | $45,629 | $63,374 | $89,991 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $45,554 | $63,270 | $89,843 |
| Nevada | 5 | $45,472 | $63,156 | $89,681 |
| Arizona | 12 | $45,247 | $62,843 | $89,236 |
| Oregon | 5 | $45,144 | $62,700 | $89,034 |
| Idaho | 3 | $45,007 | $62,510 | $88,764 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $44,652 | $62,016 | $88,063 |
| Utah | 4 | $44,528 | $61,845 | $87,820 |
| Virginia | 7 | $43,795 | $60,827 | $86,374 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $43,229 | $60,040 | $85,257 |
| Alaska | 1 | $43,092 | $59,850 | $84,987 |
| Illinois | 5 | $42,599 | $59,166 | $84,016 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $41,542 | $57,697 | $81,929 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| Montana | 1 | $41,040 | $57,000 | $80,940 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $40,903 | $56,810 | $80,670 |
| Texas | 40 | $40,701 | $56,530 | $80,272 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $40,630 | $56,430 | $80,131 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $40,425 | $56,145 | $79,726 |
| Georgia | 6 | $40,288 | $55,955 | $79,456 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $40,219 | $55,860 | $79,321 |
| Kansas | 4 | $40,014 | $55,575 | $78,917 |
| Michigan | 6 | $39,877 | $55,385 | $78,647 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $39,399 | $54,720 | $77,703 |
| Maryland | 1 | $39,398 | $54,720 | $77,702 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $38,988 | $54,150 | $76,893 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $38,988 | $54,150 | $76,893 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $37,962 | $52,725 | $74,870 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $37,757 | $52,440 | $74,465 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $37,244 | $51,728 | $73,453 |
| Missouri | 4 | $37,244 | $51,728 | $73,453 |
| Alabama | 5 | $37,100 | $51,528 | $73,170 |
| Indiana | 3 | $36,526 | $50,730 | $72,037 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $36,526 | $50,730 | $72,037 |
| Iowa | 2 | $36,115 | $50,160 | $71,227 |
| Ohio | 6 | $36,047 | $50,065 | $71,093 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $34,474 | $47,880 | $67,990 |
Geography shapes Industrial Machinery Mechanic pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $80,071 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($120,840 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $57,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $120,840 | 212 | $57,000 | $73,480 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $112,860 | 198 | $57,000 | $69,087 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $104,880 | 184 | $57,000 | $64,694 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $103,170 | 181 | $57,000 | $63,753 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $101,460 | 178 | $57,000 | $62,811 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $100,890 | 177 | $57,000 | $62,497 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $100,890 | 177 | $57,000 | $62,497 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $98,610 | 173 | $57,000 | $61,204 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $98,610 | 173 | $57,000 | $61,204 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $96,330 | 169 | $57,000 | $59,903 |
From a career planning perspective, Industrial Machinery Mechanic offers a $46,439 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires High school + training. Day-to-day, expect factory work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Industrial Machinery Mechanics is $66,342 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $47,766, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $94,205.
The highest-paying city for Industrial Machinery Mechanics is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $120,840. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($120,840), Santa Clara ($112,860), Irvine ($104,880). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Industrial Machinery Mechanic salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $47,310. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Industrial Machinery Mechanics (10th percentile) average $47,766 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $87,005. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Industrial Machinery Mechanics average $94,205 nationally — $46,439 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Industrial Machinery Mechanics can earn up to $171,593.
The top-paying states for Industrial Machinery Mechanics are California ($80,071 median), Massachusetts ($77,378 median), Hawaii ($76,950 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Industrial Machinery Mechanic involves High school + training. The field is in the Skilled Trades sector (Installation & Maintenance), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically factory.
With a national median of $66,342 and representation across 288 metro areas, Industrial Machinery Mechanic offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $46,439 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.