What Does an Instrument Maker Do?
The sample holder or vacuum chamber a physics lab needs this month is rarely in any catalog, so it comes from the instrument maker down the hall. Instrument makers draw these parts in SolidWorks and machine them on manual and computer-controlled (CNC) lathes and mills, working in research shops at universities and government labs. Vacuum parts get a leak test before delivery.
Also known as: Instrument Maker Designer, Mechanician, Senior Mechanician
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist), CNC Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Machinist), Gear Machinist, Machine Repair Person, Machinist, Maintenance Machinist, Manual Lathe Machinist, Production Machinist.
Instrument Maker Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an instrument maker include:
- Turn a researcher's sketch or idea into dimensioned drawings in SolidWorks before cutting metal.
- Machine custom parts on manual and CNC lathes and mills to tight tolerances.
- Build vacuum chambers, sample holders and optical mounts for physics, chemistry and biology labs.
- Select metals and plastics, such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass or PEEK, for each application.
- Weld and braze assemblies with TIG equipment, then leak-test vacuum parts before delivery.
- Measure finished parts with micrometers, height gauges and indicators, recording critical dimensions.
- Repair and modify existing lab instruments when an experiment changes.
- Consult with faculty and students on what can be built, how long it takes and what it costs.
- Maintain shop machines and keep cutting tools sharp and organized.
- Teach students safe machine use when they work in the shop.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an instrument maker, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Manual and CNC lathe and mill operation
- SolidWorks or similar CAD software
- Reading and making engineering drawings with GD&T
- Welding and brazing, including TIG
- Vacuum and cryogenic hardware know-how
- Precision measurement
- Inventive problem-solving with researchers
- Patience for custom, low-volume work
Education and Training
Most instrument makers learn through a machinist apprenticeship or long on-the-job training, but some start out by finishing a precision machining program at a community college. Experience of building lab equipment could lead to a designer post. CAD courses in SolidWorks may also help.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $47,570 - $67,700 per year, with a median of $58,750.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Machinists.
According to BLS, growth for machinists, the wider group that includes instrument makers, is projected at about 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 26,100 openings a year. And, as long as researchers design experiments that need custom hardware, instrument makers will be needed to make sure it gets built and works.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Machinists.
Instrument Maker Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $39,200 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $47,570 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $58,750 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $67,700 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $80,010 |
Highest-Paying States for Instrument Makers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Hawaii ($84,410), Alaska ($77,670), District of Columbia ($72,900), Massachusetts ($67,270), Washington ($66,160). Pay is lowest in South Dakota ($50,890), Tennessee ($49,600), West Virginia ($47,350).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,560 |
| Alaska | $77,670 |
| Arizona | $61,080 |
| Arkansas | $51,140 |
| California | $57,190 |
| Colorado | $60,200 |
| Connecticut | $62,130 |
| Delaware | $62,650 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 |
| Florida | $57,140 |
| Georgia | $52,610 |
| Hawaii | $84,410 |
| Idaho | $58,810 |
| Illinois | $58,520 |
| Indiana | $57,800 |
| Iowa | $57,540 |
| Kansas | $51,220 |
| Kentucky | $58,660 |
| Louisiana | $61,110 |
| Maine | $59,160 |
| Maryland | $59,810 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 |
| Michigan | $52,360 |
| Minnesota | $61,140 |
| Mississippi | $55,550 |
| Missouri | $58,710 |
| Montana | $60,920 |
| Nebraska | $55,860 |
| Nevada | $53,050 |
| New Hampshire | $61,500 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 |
| New Mexico | $59,440 |
| New York | $60,920 |
| North Carolina | $55,230 |
| North Dakota | $61,820 |
| Ohio | $57,940 |
| Oklahoma | $51,120 |
| Oregon | $63,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,810 |
| Rhode Island | $57,760 |
| South Carolina | $57,970 |
| South Dakota | $50,890 |
| Tennessee | $49,600 |
| Texas | $59,180 |
| Utah | $61,280 |
| Vermont | $62,680 |
| Virginia | $61,290 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| West Virginia | $47,350 |
| Wisconsin | $59,110 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as machinists about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 96% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 94% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
- 89% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 75% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 66% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 62% work around hazardous equipment every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 36% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 33% |
| Some college | 17% |
| Less than high school | 14% |
Tools and Software Instrument Makers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Operation and Control, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Speaking.
Knowledge areas used most: Mathematics, Mechanical, Production and Processing, Design, Engineering and Technology.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for an Instrument Maker Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 51-4041.00 (Machinists). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.