State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Machinist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Machinists earn a median of $58,750 per year ($28.24/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 0.0% through 2034, with about 29,500 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 51-4041ProductionLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $58,750
- Projected growth
- 0.0%
- Openings a year
- 29,500
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist), CNC Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Machinist), Gear Machinist, Machine Repair Person, Machinist, Maintenance Machinist.
How much do Machinists make?
10th percentile$39,200
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$47,570
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$58,750
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$67,700
Upper quartile
90th percentile$80,010
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $58,750 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $28.24/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $59,320 |
| People employed | 287,050 |
Versus all US occupations
At $58,750, Machinists earn 15% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,770 a year.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $47,920, this is 23% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $80,010 or more while the bottom 10% earn $39,200, a gap of 2.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 40% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Hawaii pays the most at $84,410, and still leads at $76,771 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Machinists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 | $76,771 | 260 |
| Alaska | $77,670 | $75,880 | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 | $66,332 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 | $63,608 | 7,080 |
| Washington | $66,160 | $61,824 | 6,880 |
| Oregon | $63,820 | $61,745 | 2,760 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 | $58,076 | 3,210 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 | $68,043 | 290 |
| Vermont | $62,680 | $63,987 | 220 |
| Delaware | $62,650 | $62,771 | 310 |
Is Machinist a growing career?
Machinists0.0%
All US occupations3.1%
0.0% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Machinists to change 0.0% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 0 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 29,500 openings are projected each year, 9.8% of the 299,500 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of machinists and tool and die makers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of machinists and tool and die makers varies by occupation (see table).
Although machinists will be required to set up, monitor, and maintain systems, such as computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, autoloaders, and high-speed machining, their employment growth is expected to be limited as improvements in these technologies increase these workers’ efficiency over the projections decade.
How to become a Machinist
Machinists are not licensed anywhere in the United States, and BLS is explicit that certification is optional. The national credential is NIMS, and its structure is worth understanding before you chase it: NIMS credentials are tied to specific job roles, most require both a written exam and a hands-on performance evaluation, and the roles distinguish sharply between an operator who runs proven programs and a specialist who plans the process and sets up jobs from unproven ones. Since NIMS credentials are assessed by registered organisations rather than sold to individuals, you generally earn them through a school, an apprenticeship or an employer.
The credential path, step by step
- Get a high school diploma and the maths
BLS records a high school diploma or equivalent as typically required for machinists, with high school courses in math, blueprint reading, metalworking and CAD/CAM considered useful. Tool and die makers may additionally need postsecondary courses.
- Take a community college or technical school programme, or skip itTwo-year degrees or shorter certificate programmes
BLS describes 2-year degree programmes and shorter nondegree certificate programmes that teach design, reading engineering drawings, the use of welding and cutting tools, and the programming and function of CNC machines. Neither is required.
- Learn on the job or enter an employer-sponsored apprenticeshipApprenticeships typically last several years
BLS says machinists typically gain competency through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship, that trainees often begin as machine operators and take on more difficult assignments over time, and that apprenticeship programmes are typically sponsored by an employer and consist of paid training on the job plus related technical instruction lasting several years, often delivered with local community colleges and vocational-technical schools. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically needed to enter one.
- Earn NIMS credentials through a registered organisation
NIMS credentials have two components: an exam assessing the knowledge needed for the role, and a performance evaluation assessing the ability to do the job's everyday tasks. The performance component takes one of three forms depending on the credential: a Credentialing Achievement Record of hands-on skills checks verified by an evaluator, a project in which you machine an industry-designed part to print specification and the finished part is inspected, or a performance measure observed by an evaluator. Exams and evaluations are created by NIMS but administered by organisations registered with NIMS, such as schools and apprenticeship programmes, which is why individuals normally earn them through a programme rather than by booking a test.
- Stack toward the specialist roles, not just the operator ones
The distinction NIMS draws is the one employers pay for. CNC Milling Operators and CNC Turning Operators set up jobs with proven programs. CNC Milling Specialists and CNC Turning Specialists set up jobs with unproven programs. Manual Milling Specialists and Manual Turning Specialists process plan and set up jobs. NIMS publishes recommended stacks: preparing a CNC Milling Specialist, for example, stacks Measurement, Materials and Safety, then Job Planning, Benchwork and Layout, then CNC Mill Operations, then CNC Mill Programming, Setup and Operations.
- Renew within five years
All NIMS credentials expire five years from the date they are earned unless renewed under the NIMS renewal policy. The stated purpose is to keep credential holders current with evolving industry standards, technologies and employer expectations.
Exams you have to pass
NIMS credential exam and performance evaluation
Most NIMS credentials require both. The exam covers the knowledge requirements listed on the relevant job role page. The performance evaluation takes one of three forms: a Credentialing Achievement Record of skills checks observed by an evaluator, a project part machined to print and then inspected, or a performance measure of tasks observed on actual or simulated workplace activities. NIMS writes and maintains both components; registered organisations purchase credentials, assign them to candidates and designate the proctors and evaluators.
Administered by Organisations registered with NIMS (schools, apprenticeship programmes, employers).
- How long the training takes
No programme is required. BLS describes 2-year degree programmes and shorter certificate programmes at community and technical colleges, and employer-sponsored apprenticeships with paid on-the-job training and related technical instruction lasting several years.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
NIMS credentials expire five years from the date they are earned unless renewed in accordance with the NIMS renewal policy, which exists to ensure credential holders keep pace with changing industry standards and technologies. There is no continuing education obligation on the job itself, because there is no licence.
Licensing and state variation
Not a state license
No state licenses machinists, and NIMS credentials are national. The practical variation is in employers rather than in law: some shops use NIMS credentials as an objective basis for wage progression and for filtering new hires, and some do not use them at all. Work on defence or aerospace contracts adds separate requirements that have nothing to do with machining credentials, such as citizenship or export-control eligibility.
Who governs the credential
- National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) — Sets the US metalworking competency standards, writes and maintains the credential exams and performance evaluations, defines the machining job roles from CNC Milling Operator up to CNC Mill-Turn Specialist, registers the organisations that administer testing, and operates the five-year renewal policy.
Credential detail for machinists is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Machinists and Tool and Die Makers, How to Become One · checked August 23, 2026
- NIMS — Credentialing (the exam plus performance evaluation model, the three performance evaluation types, and the registered-organisation administration model) · checked August 23, 2026
- NIMS — Interactive Smart Standards: Machining Roles (operator versus specialist role definitions) · checked August 23, 2026
- NIMS — Stacking Recommendations · checked August 23, 2026
- NIMS — Renewal Policy (all credentials expire five years from the date earned) · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Although machinists typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation, tool and die makers also may need to complete postsecondary courses. Machinists and tool and die makers typically are trained on the job. Some learn through training or apprenticeship programs, vocational schools, or community and technical colleges.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as machinists.
- High School Diploma35.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate33.1%
- Some College Courses17.3%
- Less than a High School Diploma13.6%
What does a Machinist do?
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.
Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled equipment to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
- Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
- Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
- Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.
- Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
- Diagnose machine tool malfunctions to determine need for adjustments or repairs.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Many machinists and tool and die makers work full time during regular business hours. However, some work nights and weekends in facilities that operate around the clock. Some work more than 40 hours a week.
Where the work happens
- Almost never works outdoors
Physical demands
- On their feet more than half the working day
Working with people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where machinists work
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | 34% |
|---|---|
| Machinery manufacturing | 21% |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | 13% |
| Wholesale trade | 4% |
| Employment services | 3% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Critical Thinking3.1/5
- Monitoring3.1/5
- Active Listening3.0/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Reading Comprehension2.9/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
- Active Learning2.8/5
- Writing2.5/5
Transferable skills
- Operation and Control3.3/5
- Operations Monitoring3.1/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0/5
- Troubleshooting3.0/5
- Quality Control Analysis3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.9/5
- Equipment Maintenance2.9/5
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Computer aided manufacturing CAM software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Industrial control software
- Object or component oriented development software
- Procedure management software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Machinist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary7.0
Investigativeprimary3.7
Artistic1.9
Social1.2
Enterprising1.2
Conventionalprimary4.4
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Machinist: frequently asked questions
How much do Machinists make?
Machinists earn a median of $58,750 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 15% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.24/hr. The middle half earn between $47,570 and $67,700. The top 10% earn $80,010 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Machinist?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Machinists. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 35.9% hold high school diploma.
Is Machinist a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.0% over 2024–2034 against 3.1% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 29,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Machinist do?
Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled equipment to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools. A core O*NET task: calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Computer aided manufacturing CAM software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Machinists the most?
The highest state medians for Machinists are Hawaii ($84,410), Alaska ($77,670), District of Columbia ($72,900) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Machinist?
O*NET scores Machinists highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Machinist?
No programme is required. BLS describes 2-year degree programmes and shorter certificate programmes at community and technical colleges, and employer-sponsored apprenticeships with paid on-the-job training and related technical instruction lasting several years.
Do you need a license to work as a Machinist?
Not a state license. No state licenses machinists, and NIMS credentials are national. The practical variation is in employers rather than in law: some shops use NIMS credentials as an objective basis for wage progression and for filtering new hires, and some do not use them at all. Work on defence or aerospace contracts adds separate requirements that have nothing to do with machining credentials, such as citizenship or export-control eligibility.
What exams and certifications apply to a Machinist?
The NIMS credential exam and performance evaluation. Most NIMS credentials require both. The exam covers the knowledge requirements listed on the relevant job role page. The performance evaluation takes one of three forms: a Credentialing Achievement Record of skills checks observed by an evaluator, a project part machined to print and then inspected, or a performance measure of tasks observed on actual or simulated workplace activities. NIMS writes and maintains both components; registered organisations purchase credentials, assign them to candidates and designate the proctors and evaluators.