Skilled Trades
Machinists
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
Median salary
$56,150
Typical range
$38k – $79k
Job outlook
See national outlook
AI exposure
Plan a path to Machinists
Education
Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Machinists
Entry / Junior
$38,100
~2 yrs to advance
Machinists
Established
$56,150
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Machinists
Senior
$67,455
Key skills
A typical day
- •Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
- •Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
- •Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
- •Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
- •Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.