Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduates earn $83,301 four years out. Related careers are growing at up to 29.5%, one of the stronger demand signals across all fields. Wind Turbine Service Technicians is among the highest-growth roles in the field.
About Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
This page covers Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Mechanics & Repair and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians is a focused area of study within Mechanics & Repair. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $83,301 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 374 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 8,614 students complete it each year, most walking away with a certificate. Training is practical and skills-based, with a fast path from classroom to job site.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$65,331
Median Earnings · 4yr
$83,301
Colleges Offering
374
Graduates / Year
8,614
Avg Net Price / yr
$8,321
How Much Do Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians, a typical graduate earns $83,301, well above average for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $72,669 and $105,418, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$83,301
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$83,528
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Region and union membership drive the gap more than any other factor. Union jobs in high-cost metros pay significantly more than non-union positions elsewhere.
$72,66925th pct.
$83,301Median
$105,41875th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $83,301 against an estimated $33,284 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 2 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 8,614 students who complete Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians programs each year, the majority (62%) earn a certificate degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
62%36%
Certificate62%
Associate's36%
Doctorate2%
What Can You Do With a Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduates show up in 6 different occupations, and Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers pay the most at $109,910/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
Inspect wiring connections, control panel hookups, door installations, and alignments and clearances of cars and hoistways to ensure that equipment will operate properly.
Assemble, install, repair, and maintain elevators, escalators, moving sidewalks, and dumbwaiters, using hand and power tools, and testing devices such as test lamps, ammeters, and voltmeters.
Disassemble defective units, and repair or replace parts such as locks, gears, cables, and electric wiring.
Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
Record maintenance information, including test results, material usage, and repairs made.
Disassemble and repair mechanical control devices or valves, such as regulators, thermostats, or hydrants, using power tools, hand tools, and cutting torches.
Lubricate wearing surfaces of mechanical parts, using oils or other lubricants.
High school diploma or equivalent15,000 openings/yr177K employed nationally
RepairingTroubleshootingEquipment MaintenanceOperations MonitoringOperation and Control
Day-to-day responsibilities
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.
Repair and replace damaged or worn parts.
Test mechanical products and equipment after repair or assembly to ensure proper performance and compliance with manufacturers' specifications.
Operate and inspect machines or heavy equipment to diagnose defects.
High school diploma or equivalent44,400 openings/yr440K employed nationally
RepairingOperations MonitoringOperation and ControlEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshooting
Day-to-day responsibilities
Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.
Repair or maintain the operating condition of industrial production or processing machinery or equipment.
Repair or replace broken or malfunctioning components of machinery or equipment.
Clean, lubricate, or adjust parts, equipment, or machinery.
Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.
Troubleshoot or repair mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical malfunctions related to variable pitch systems, variable speed control systems, converter systems, or related components.
Perform routine maintenance on wind turbine equipment, underground transmission systems, wind fields substations, or fiber optic sensing and control systems.
Diagnose problems involving wind turbine generators or control systems.
High school diploma or equivalent4,400 openings/yr60K employed nationally
Operations MonitoringEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and Control
Day-to-day responsibilities
Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.
Dismantle machines and remove parts for repair, using hand tools, chain falls, jacks, cranes, or hoists.
Reassemble machines after the completion of repair or maintenance work.
Record production, repair, and machine maintenance information.
Top Colleges for Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
Not sure where to study Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Mechanics & Repair Programs
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians is not the only path through Mechanics & Repair: 7 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians a solid option. The 4 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $83,301 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +29.5% over the next decade, with Wind Turbine Service Technicians among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 70,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
High upside potentialTop earners (75th percentile) in this program reach $105,418, a strong ceiling for high performers.
CONS
Licensure often requiredMany positions in this field require trade licenses, certifications, or apprenticeship completion. These add time and cost beyond the academic credential.
Declining roles in some areas1 related career show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
How much do Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?
$83,301 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $72,669 and $105,418, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians degree?
$65,331 in the first year out. That grows to $83,301 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians degree?
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers are one path, and it pays a median of $109,910 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians program take?
One to two years of full-time study for most Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians certificates, and some community colleges get you through in a single semester. That makes it one of the fastest ways into the field.
How many colleges offer Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians?
374 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians degree worth it?
$83,301 median earnings four years out against $8,321 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians and Mechanics & Repair?
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians is the narrower of the two: Mechanics & Repair covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduates consistently look for technical proficiency, safety compliance, and hands-on problem-solving. Certifications, apprenticeships, and demonstrated practical experience typically carry as much weight as academic credentials in this field. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduates?
It can be. At a median salary of $83,301, graduate study in Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians tends to meaningfully raise long-term income, particularly through specialized or professional programs tied to high-demand roles. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Outlook is strong overall: related occupations average +10.4% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Wind Turbine Service Technicians are among the strongest-growth roles at +29.5%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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