What Does a Machinist Do?
Machinists turn bars of steel, aluminum and bronze into the shafts, bushings and brackets that keep pumps, fans and lab equipment running, often copying a part its maker stopped selling years ago. The work happens at manual lathes, mills and grinders in factories, plant maintenance shops and university research labs. Most jobs are measured in thousandths of an inch.
Also known as: Senior Machinist, Maintenance Machinist, Research Machinist
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, Maintenance Machinist, Manual Lathe Machinist, Production Machinist, Tool Room Machinist.
Machinist Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a machinist include:
- Read blueprints and sketches to plan the order of cuts and set up each job.
- Set up and run manual lathes, mills, drill presses and surface grinders.
- Repair worn shafts, bushings, gears and pump parts for building and plant equipment.
- Fabricate brackets, fixtures and replacement parts that are no longer sold by the maker.
- Measure work with micrometers, calipers and dial indicators to confirm tolerances.
- Grind and sharpen drills, lathe tools and cutters to keep work accurate.
- Weld, braze or tap parts as a repair requires.
- Balance and align rotating equipment such as fans and motors after repairs.
- Keep machines oiled, clean and adjusted, and report problems before they cause breakdowns.
- Record time and materials on work orders for maintenance or research billing.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a machinist, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Manual lathe and mill setup
- Blueprint reading and shop math
- Precision measurement tools
- Basic welding and brazing
- Knowledge of steels, aluminum and bronze
- Mechanical troubleshooting on pumps and drives
- Safe work habits around rotating machinery
- Steady hands and patience for fine adjustments
Education and Training
A high school diploma is the usual starting point, followed by an apprenticeship or a long stretch of training on the job beside experienced machinists. A machining certificate from a community college or technical school is another way into a first shop job. NIMS credentials show employers which machines and operations you have already been tested on. Later moves include CNC programming and quality inspection.
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.
BLS projects employment of machinists to grow about 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 26,100 openings a year. In fact, most of those openings will come from the need to replace machinists who retire or leave, according to BLS. Bear in mind that you are more likely to be hired if you can run both manual and CNC machines.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Machinists.
Machinist 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 Machinists
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 Machinists 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 a Machinist 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.