Production · Career brief

Machinists

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Machinists at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$58,750

Middle-of-the-pack pay

2025 national median. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

26,100

Lots of annual openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

ChooseField take

The standout national signal is opening volume; it ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.

Before choosing, compare:Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Machinists with another field Explore rankings in Production Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$58,750

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

1%employment growth26,100openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; More than 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

288,300

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Machinists (51-4041).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

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.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.
Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.
Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Controlling Machines and Processes4.7
Getting Information4.3
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.3
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.9
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.9

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic7.0
Conventional4.4
Investigative3.7
Artistic2.0
Enterprising1.2
Social1.2

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Mathematics Mechanical Production and Processing Design

Software and tools named in job postings

G-code Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Take a supervised shop, maker, or trade class and finish one project while following its measurement, cleanup, and safety rules.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Machinists nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Active Listening among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions. Examples of tools used in the occupation include G-code, Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software; check which ones employers near you actually require.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options