Occupations · Production

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 51-4041.00

$56,150median annual wage, May 2024

298,790people employed, United States

▲ 0.0%projected change, 2024→2034

29,500openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 70% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$60,470	11,340
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$57,470	10,500
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$57,240	9,560
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$50,610	8,820
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	$58,630	7,550
St. Louis, MO-IL	$60,850	5,640
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$63,600	5,210
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	$47,640	4,730
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$62,320	4,460
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$57,400	4,390
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI	$53,010	4,380
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$73,790	4,270

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.
Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
Fit and assemble parts to make or repair machine tools.
Support metalworking projects from planning and fabrication through assembly, inspection, and testing, using knowledge of machine functions, metal properties, and mathematics.
Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.
Confer with numerical control programmers to check and ensure that new programs or machinery will function properly and that output will meet specifications.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Critical Thinking3.1

Monitoring3.1

Speaking3.0

Active Listening3.0

Reading Comprehension2.9

Mathematics2.9

Active Learning2.8

Writing2.5

Learning Strategies2.1

Science1.5

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Autodesk AutoCAD●Dassault Systemes SolidWorks●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●SAP software●3D Printing softwareArmchair Machinist softwareAutodesk Fusion 360Autodesk HSMWorksCNC Consulting Machinists' CalculatorCNC MastercamDassault Systemes CATIAERP softwareEditCNCG-codeGRZ Software MeshCAMHexagon Metrology PC-DMISIMSI TurboCADJETCAMJobBOSSKentech Kipware StudioKentech Kipware Trig KalculatorMastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing softwareMazak Mazatrol SMART CNCOnShape

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment+2.4 above average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets+2.0 above average

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment+1.8 above average

Telephone Conversations−1.6 below average

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls+1.5 above average

E-Mail−1.4 below average

Spend Time Standing+1.4 above average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2020-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)36%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)33%

Some College Courses17%

Less than a High School Diploma14%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2020-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Realistic7.0

Conventional4.4

Investigative3.7

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Operation and Control3.2

Operations Monitoring3.1

Complex Problem Solving3.0

Quality Control Analysis3.0

Troubleshooting3.0

Coordination3.0

Social Perceptiveness2.9

Repairing2.9

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

MathematicsMechanicalProduction and ProcessingDesignEnglish LanguageEngineering and Technology

Abilities it leans on

Finger DexterityManual DexterityArm-Hand SteadinessControl PrecisionSelective AttentionNear Vision

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

JobberMechanistMachinistFixture MakerTool MachinistGear MachinistMachine FitterMetal MachinistLathe MachinistCarbide OperatorManual MachinistInstrument MakerOutside MachinistThermometer Maker

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 3 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 22

+OnShape+GRZ Software MeshCAM+Mazak Mazatrol SMART CNC+G-code+Dassault Systemes CATIA+Dassault Systemes SolidWorks+Microsoft PowerPoint+SAP software+3D Printing software+Kentech Kipware Studio+IMSI TurboCAD+Hexagon Metrology PC-DMIS+Kentech Kipware Trig Kalculator+Autodesk Fusion 360

No longer listed 7

−Kentech Kipware software−Computer aided design CAD software−Kentech Trig Kalculator−Faster Fleet Management software−Pro CNC software−Computer aided manufacturing CAM software−CNC TurboCAD/CAM

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

FitterJobberMachinistMechanistBench HandMachinist ANC MachinistDeck EngineerFixture MakerMachine Set-UpMachine FitterMachinist Mate

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
gear machinist	7223.8	broader
lathe and turning machine operator	7223.4.4	broader
metal planer operator	7223.12	broader
fitter and turner	7223.7	broader
computer numerical control machine operator	7223.4	broader
screw machine operator	7223.19	broader
milling machine operator	7223.4.6	broader
tool and die maker	7222.5	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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