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

Industrial machinery mechanics in Virginia earn a median wage of $64,020 per year, or about $30.78 per hour based on a 2,080-hour work year. That's the midpoint — half the mechanics in the state earn more, half earn less. If you're just starting out or working in a lower-paying region of Virginia, expect to land closer to the 25th percentile at $53,780 annually ($25.86/hr). Experienced mechanics in high-demand facilities or metro areas can reach the 75th percentile at $79,150 per year ($38.05/hr). All figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025.

The spread between the bottom quarter and top quarter of earners is $25,370 per year — that's not a small gap. It tells you that where you work, what you work on, and how long you've been doing it makes a real difference to your paycheck. A mechanic maintaining conveyor systems in a northern Virginia distribution center is likely pulling different pay than one servicing food processing equipment in the Shenandoah Valley. Industry sector, facility size, and shift differentials all move the needle.

Virginia's economy runs a wide range of industrial operations: defense-related manufacturing, paper and packaging plants, food and beverage processing, chemical production, and large logistics and distribution centers tied to the Port of Virginia. All of these facilities depend on machinery mechanics to keep equipment running and downtime to a minimum. The more critical the equipment and the more specialized the repair skills required — hydraulics, PLCs, CNC machinery, pneumatic systems — the more leverage a mechanic has when it comes to pay.

Shift work is common in this trade and often comes with a premium. Second and third shift differentials can add $1.00 to $3.00 or more per hour on top of base wages. Overtime is also routine during planned maintenance shutdowns or unplanned equipment failures, which can push annual take-home well above the base figures listed here. A mechanic at the median base of $30.78/hr working regular overtime at 1.5x would earn $46.17/hr on those extra hours.

Certifications matter. Mechanics who hold credentials in electrical work, hydraulics, or specific equipment platforms — like those issued by NIMS or equipment manufacturers — consistently show up at the higher end of the pay range. Employers in Virginia's competitive manufacturing sector often pay a premium to avoid the downtime cost of outsourcing specialty repairs.

There is no union scale available for this trade in Virginia through TradesPays at this time. That doesn't mean union shops don't exist in the state — it means verified collective bargaining wage data specific to this trade and state isn't currently in our dataset. If you're considering a union position, ask the local hall directly for the current scale and benefit package.

Entry-level mechanics coming out of a vocational program or community college machinery maintenance program typically start near or below the 25th percentile. From there, pay climbs as you accumulate time on different machine types, take on more complex repairs, and demonstrate reliability during critical production runs. Mechanics who move into lead or supervisory roles, or who transition into maintenance planning and reliability engineering, often push earnings above the 75th percentile range entirely.

The bottom line: a skilled industrial machinery mechanic in Virginia can reasonably expect to earn between $53,780 and $79,150 per year depending on experience, sector, and location. The median of $64,020 is a solid benchmark for a mechanic with a few years of solid experience on a variety of equipment. Hourly, that's $25.86 at the low end, $30.78 at the middle, and $38.05 at the top quarter — before any shift differential or overtime is factored in.