Statewide pay Government data
Industrial machinery mechanics in Arkansas earn a statewide median of $59,760 a year, 6% below the typical U.S. metro, ranking #50 of 50 states and DC. About 6,270 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near Arkansas
See all states on the industrial machinery mechanic overview.
Pay by city Government data
BLS publishes industrial machinery mechanic pay for 5 Arkansas metros: Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, Jonesboro and Little Rock.
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little RockARKANSAS · AR | $59,940 | $67,074 | 900 |
| FayettevilleARKANSAS · AR | $59,880 | $65,548 | 730 |
| JonesboroARKANSAS · AR | $59,120 | $68,843 | 290 |
| Fort SmithARKANSAS · AR | $57,960 | $67,483 | 750 |
| Hot SpringsARKANSAS · AR | $49,100 | $57,273 | 100 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Pay outside the cities Government data
BLS also reports pay for Arkansas's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.
BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.
The job (national)
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.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 17.8% from 2025 to 2035, with about 44,400 openings a year. Typical training: long-term on-the-job training.
Nationally, industrial machinery mechanics have 54 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 38% below the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is being struck by or caught in objects and equipment.
What the work is like Government data
How often industrial machinery mechanics deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes medium preparation (vocational training or an apprenticeship, often 1–2+ years).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Registered apprenticeships Government data
Of industrial machinery mechanic apprentices in Arkansas who finished or left a registered program in fiscal years 2020–2024, 71% completed (U.S.: 66%), about 42 graduates a year. The typical program runs 4,500 hours, about 2 years of full-time work.
U.S. Department of Labor, RAPIDS apprentice records (Completion Rate Analysis), FY2020–2024 exits.
Where to train in Arkansas Government data
12 schools in Arkansas offer heavy and industrial equipment maintenance programs below the bachelor's level. Many people in this trade learn through an apprenticeship instead; a program can shorten it or get you hired as a helper.
| School | Credential | Yearly cost | Recent grads | First-year pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas De Queen, AR · Public | Certificate | $10,109 | 64 | — |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, AR · Public | Certificate | $25,335 | 26 | — |
| Arkansas State University-Newport Newport, AR · Public | Certificate | $17,253 | 24 | — |
| Arkansas State University Three Rivers Malvern, AR · Public | Certificate | $16,130 | 23 | — |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, AR · Public | Associate degree | $25,335 | 20 | — |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton Morrilton, AR · Public | Certificate | $16,327 | 13 | — |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton Morrilton, AR · Public | Associate degree | $16,327 | 7 | — |
| University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Hope, AR · Public | Certificate | $12,464 | 7 | — |
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (data updated October 2026). Cost is the school's average yearly cost of attendance before financial aid; earnings are the median for graduates one year after finishing, shown only where the school has enough graduates to publish. “—” means not published.
Licensing in Arkansas Official source
The main state licensing office in Arkansas is the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Home of the Contractors Licensing Board; some trades are licensed by other state agencies. It can point you to the right license for industrial machinery mechanics.
Official Arkansas licensing site ↗
Requirements for industrial machinery mechanics vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 2.8% of wage and salary workers in Arkansas were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#48 of 51 states and D.C.), and 3.5% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only industrial machinery mechanics.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Cities in Arkansas
All trades in Arkansas.