How to Become a Industrial Mechanic in New Jersey
When the machines stop, you get called.
Median Salary (NJ)
$73,000
Apprenticeship
4–5 years
License Required
Varies
Job Demand
Moderate
What Industrial Mechanics Earn in New Jersey
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS)
New Jersey Median
$73,000
per year
National Median
$61,420
per year
Entry Level (25th)
$46,270
Median
$61,420
Experienced (75th)
$75,120
Top Earners (90th)
$90,000
National percentiles shown. New Jersey-specific percentile data varies.
Career Path
From apprentice to running your own operation in New Jersey
Millwright Apprentice / Industrial Mechanic Trainee
$38,000–$52,000Years 0–4
Learn through a union apprenticeship (United Brotherhood of Carpenters covers millwrights) or on-the-job training at a manufacturing facility. Core skills: precision alignment, rigging, welding, hydraulics.
Journeyperson Millwright
$55,000–$78,000Years 4–10
Work in manufacturing plants, power generation facilities, or process industries. Millwrights who can troubleshoot PLC controls and automated systems command significantly higher wages.
Lead Millwright / Maintenance Supervisor
$72,000–$95,000Years 8–15
Lead maintenance crews at large manufacturing facilities. Develop preventive maintenance programs and manage shutdowns and turnarounds.
Maintenance Manager / Reliability Engineer
$90,000–$130,000+Years 12+
Move into management of plant maintenance operations or reliability engineering. Industrial maintenance managers at large plants earn $90,000–$130,000+.
How to Get Started in New Jersey
Step-by-step path into the industrial mechanic trade
- 1
Apply to a UBC millwright local (carpenters.org) — the United Brotherhood of Carpenters covers millwright apprenticeships with structured training and union wages.
Browse millwright apprenticeships → - 2
Many manufacturing plants hire maintenance trainees directly and train on the job — often a faster path to full wages than the union track.
Find hiring manufacturers → - 3
A community college industrial maintenance or mechatronics program is strong preparation and can lead directly to a maintenance tech job.
Find industrial programs → - 4
Core skills to build first: hydraulics, pneumatics, and basic electrical. These are the foundation of every millwright role.
- 5
PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) skills are increasingly valued in automated facilities and can push your wage ceiling significantly higher.