How much do industrial machinery mechanics make in New York in 2026?

Industrial machinery mechanics in New York earn a median of $69,740 per year, which works out to roughly $33.53 an hour based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. That figure comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025.

The full spread tells the real story. At the 25th percentile, mechanics are pulling in $59,680 annually — about $28.69 an hour. These are typically workers earlier in their careers, in lower-cost regions of the state, or working in industries that historically pay less for maintenance trades. At the 75th percentile, pay climbs to $82,070 a year, or roughly $39.46 an hour. Workers at that level usually have years of hands-on experience with complex automated equipment, hold relevant certifications, or are working in demanding industrial environments like food processing plants, chemical facilities, or large-scale manufacturing operations.

The gap between the 25th and 75th percentile is $22,390 per year — a meaningful difference that reflects how much experience, specialization, and employer type actually matter in this trade. A mechanic who can troubleshoot PLCs, hydraulic systems, and pneumatic controls is worth considerably more to an employer than one who handles routine lubrication and basic mechanical repairs.

New York's geography plays a significant role in where you land on this scale. Mechanics working in the New York City metro, Long Island, or Westchester County tend to earn toward the higher end of the range due to higher costs of living and a concentration of industrial employers in sectors like food and beverage, printing, and warehousing and distribution. Upstate markets — including Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany — have strong manufacturing bases tied to aerospace components, pharmaceuticals, and automotive parts suppliers, all of which employ industrial machinery mechanics in volume. Pay in those markets can be competitive, though typically below what you'd see in the metro area.

This trade covers a wide range of day-to-day work. Industrial machinery mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair factory equipment — everything from conveyor systems and pumps to robotic assembly arms and CNC machines. Increasingly, employers want mechanics who can read electrical schematics and work alongside controls technicians, not just handle the mechanical side. That crossover skill set is one of the clearest paths to wages above the median in this occupation.

Overtime is common in this trade, particularly in facilities that run two or three shifts. A mechanic at the median base rate of $33.53 an hour earns $50.30 for every hour of overtime — time-and-a-half under federal law. Workers in plants with frequent breakdowns or scheduled shutdowns can add thousands of dollars annually on top of their base wages through overtime alone.

There is no union scale available for this specific trade and state in our current data set. That said, mechanics who work under collective bargaining agreements — particularly in larger unionized manufacturing facilities — often see wage floors, structured progression schedules, and stronger benefits packages compared to non-union shops. If you are evaluating a union versus non-union position, it is worth accounting for total compensation, not just base hourly pay.

For anyone benchmarking a job offer or negotiating a raise, the numbers above give you a clear starting point. An offer below $28.69 an hour is at or below the bottom quarter of what New York employers are paying for this trade. A rate at or above $39.46 puts you in the top tier of earners in the state. Know where you stand before you sign anything.

All figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2025 release, and reflect wages for industrial machinery mechanics employed in New York State.