Post job

Conventional machinist vs lead machinist

The differences between conventional machinists and lead machinists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a conventional machinist and a lead machinist. Additionally, a lead machinist has an average salary of $51,691, which is higher than the $47,624 average annual salary of a conventional machinist.

The top three skills for a conventional machinist include CNC, grinders and hand tools. The most important skills for a lead machinist are cnc lathes, grinders, and calipers.

Conventional machinist vs lead machinist overview

Conventional MachinistLead Machinist
Yearly salary$47,624$51,691
Hourly rate$22.90$24.85
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs9,08810,892
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%High School Diploma, 34%
Average age4848
Years of experience44

Conventional machinist vs lead machinist salary

Conventional machinists and lead machinists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Conventional MachinistLead Machinist
Average salary$47,624$51,691
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $62,000Between $39,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between conventional machinist and lead machinist education

There are a few differences between a conventional machinist and a lead machinist in terms of educational background:

Conventional MachinistLead Machinist
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 45%High School Diploma, 34%
Most common majorPrecision Metal WorkingPrecision Metal Working
Most common college--

Conventional machinist vs lead machinist demographics

Here are the differences between conventional machinists' and lead machinists' demographics:

Conventional MachinistLead Machinist
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 98.6% Female, 1.4%Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 6.3% White, 70.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.7% Asian, 6.5% White, 70.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between conventional machinist and lead machinist duties and responsibilities

Conventional machinist example responsibilities.

  • Produce various parts according to blueprint specifications using conventional lathes, mills drills, grinders and horizontal and vertical mills.
  • Machine jigs and fixtures for small electronics assembly.
  • Attend Fullerton college for CNC machining, Mastercam programing, Solidworks, and Autocad.
  • Utilize various tools - calipers, micrometers, height gauges, bore gauges, and others gauges.
  • Machine parts to specifications using machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, broaching machines, shapers, or grinders.
  • Work closely with management and engineering staff to ensure efficient and safe methods are utilized in producing high quality aerospace components.
  • Show more

Lead machinist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and perform programming of CNC mills, lathes and EDM equipment, instrumentation, data acquisition and control systems.
  • Experience with cutting different materials (aluminum, titanium, inconel, mild and stainless steels).
  • Program, edit, and setup of CNC lathe with Fanuc control.
  • Work machines such as; Haas CNC vertical and horizontal mills and lathes.
  • Perform gluing, soldering, brazing and gas, arc, welding operations.
  • Lead setup/ supervisor for a cell of two Haas lathes and two Haas mills.
  • Show more

Conventional machinist vs lead machinist skills

Common conventional machinist skills
  • CNC, 13%
  • Grinders, 10%
  • Hand Tools, 8%
  • Calipers, 7%
  • Drill Press, 6%
  • Machine Shop, 6%
Common lead machinist skills
  • CNC Lathes, 9%
  • Grinders, 8%
  • Calipers, 8%
  • Machine Tools, 6%
  • Aluminum, 6%
  • Troubleshoot, 5%

Browse production and manufacturing jobs