How much do industrial machinery mechanics make in Georgia in 2026?

The median industrial machinery mechanic in Georgia earns $61,130 a year, which works out to about $29.39 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That number sits in the middle of the pack — half of mechanics in the state earn more, half earn less. If you are trying to figure out where you stand or what to negotiate for, that median is your clearest starting point.

The bottom quarter of earners — mechanics early in their careers or working in lower-paying sectors — come in at $50,200 per year, or roughly $24.13 an hour. That is still a livable wage in most parts of Georgia, but it reflects work that likely involves less specialization, lighter equipment, or smaller operations. Entry-level positions and shops with thinner margins tend to land in this range.

The top quarter earns $75,360 a year, around $36.23 an hour. Mechanics at this level typically have years of hands-on experience with complex, high-speed production equipment — think CNC machinery, automated assembly lines, robotic systems, or heavy industrial presses. Facilities like automotive plants, food and beverage manufacturers, and chemical processing operations in Georgia tend to pay at the higher end because downtime on that equipment is expensive and the skill required to prevent it is real.

Georgia's manufacturing base gives industrial machinery mechanics consistent demand across the state. The Atlanta metro corridor has a dense concentration of distribution centers, packaging operations, and light manufacturing. Savannah and the surrounding coastal region have grown significantly as port-related warehousing and logistics facilities have expanded. Further inland, communities like Columbus, Macon, and Augusta all have manufacturing operations that depend on mechanics who can keep equipment running.

The spread between the 25th and 75th percentile — from $50,200 to $75,360 — is a gap of $25,160 per year. That is not small. The difference between a mechanic at the bottom of that range and one at the top comes down to a few concrete things: the complexity of the equipment they are certified or experienced on, whether they can do electrical troubleshooting and PLC work in addition to mechanical repairs, their ability to read schematics, and the industry they are working in. Mechanics who cross-train in hydraulics, pneumatics, and basic automation controls consistently move up the pay scale faster than those who stay narrowly focused.

Shift differentials also affect take-home pay in this trade. Many Georgia manufacturing plants run two or three shifts, and second- or third-shift premiums of $1 to $2 an hour are common. Over a full year, a consistent third-shift premium of $1.50 an hour adds roughly $3,120 to annual earnings — enough to push a median-range mechanic meaningfully closer to the 75th percentile.

There is no union scale available for industrial machinery mechanics in Georgia at this time. Most mechanics in the state work under individual employer pay scales, which means your negotiating position matters. Knowing the BLS benchmark numbers — median $61,130, top quarter $75,360 — gives you a factual baseline when discussing pay with a current or prospective employer.

All figures on this page come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. These are employer-reported figures covering Georgia as a whole and represent base wages, not total compensation.