How to hire a conventional machinist

How to hire a conventional machinist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step conventional machinist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a conventional machinist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new conventional machinist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a conventional machinist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect conventional machinist also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of conventional machinist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Conventional Machinist	Description	Hourly rate
   Conventional Machinist	Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled machine tools to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.	$17-29
   Grinder	Depending on the industry, a grinder has a diverse range of duties. Typically, they oversee setting up and operating bearing grinders, cam grinders, and CNC lathes... Show more	$12-19
   Tool Technician	Tool technicians are skilled professionals who are responsible for repairing a variety of pneumatic and hand tools as well as disassemble defective electrical equipment in a manufacturing firm using these hand tools. These technicians are required to coordinate with other areas of the company to schedule and perform preventive maintenance duties... Show more	$13-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CNC
   • Grinders
   • Hand Tools
   • Calipers
   • Drill Press
   • Machine Shop
   • Shop Equipment
   • Safety Procedures
   • Aerospace
   • Engineering Drawings
   • Jigs
   • Dial Indicators
   • Manual Lathes
   • Stainless Steel

   Check all skills

   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.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your conventional machinist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A conventional machinist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, conventional machinists' average salary in oklahoma is 40% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level conventional machinists earn 42% less than senior-level conventional machinists.
   • Certifications. A conventional machinist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a conventional machinist's salary.

   Average conventional machinist salary

   $47,624yearly

   $22.90 hourly rate

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   Entry-level conventional machinist salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a conventional machinist job description

   A conventional machinist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a conventional machinist job description:

   Conventional machinist job description example

   Due to recent organizational changes, we are looking to fill Maintenance Machinist positions in our central machine shop operations. We need candidates with journey level knowledge and 5+ years experience in conventional machining in a job shop/industrial environment. CNC practices are not used. (Related Armed Service's experience or related AS/AA Degree is acceptable) A valid driver license and a high school diploma or equivalent is required. Degrees in Machining Technology, NMTA Certification or AWS D1.1 Certification are a plus.
   Qualified candidates must be able to:
   Horizontal Boring Mills (both table and Floor type) with spindles greater than 4" in diameter.
   Large Vertical Knee Mills
   Lathes with chucks greater than 24 inches and beds larger than 10ft. Experience
   Vertical Turret Lathes
   Slotters, Keyseaters, and Planers
   Horizontal and Vertical Presses
   
   Set up and operate a wide variety of conventional lathes, mills, presses and other manual machine shop equipment to fabricate or repair parts for our operations.
   Work safely following SWP's for the assignment ie. LOTO; maintain a clean, organized work area and follow all company safety procedures.
   Operate machine shop equipment to achieve close tolerances whether for creating new or modified mechanical parts and devices.
   Utilize precision measuring instruments such as micrometers and calipers to check tolerances and to ensure the finished product meets the specifications called out in sketches, blueprints, work orders or samples.
   Receive daily job assignments from the leader or work orders including CMMS WO.
   Analyze, lay-out and plan jobs; including obtaining diagrams, tools, parts and supplies.
   Clean, dismantle, inspect and reassemble equipment for proper operation. Mechanical knowledge of bearings, gears, chain and sprockets,alignments, pumps, valves, lubrication, general safe shop practices.
   Interpret drawings and specifications to determine procedures to be used for repairs.
   Utilize overhead cranes, jacks, wedges, cables, rope and chain blocks, etc. for lifting heavy parts. Should possess a knowledge of safe rigging and lifting practices.
   Operate cranes, lifts, and mobile equipment as required. Training can be provided for crane operation and rigging.
   Clean, paint, lubricate parts and equipment using steam, chemical, hand and power tools.
   Perform non-destructive testing.
   Perform gas and electric welding, cutting and duties as necessary to repair equipment.
   Fill out forms and reports pertaining to inspection and repair of equipment.
   Work cooperatively with other maintenance crews, management and vendors.
   
   If you are looking for a great company, interested in being a member of our team with a starting rate of $35.20/hr and a top rate of $40.98/hr plus a comprehensive benefits program, select "Apply" below to submit your resume.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right conventional machinist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with conventional machinists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit conventional machinists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your conventional machinist job on Zippia to find and recruit conventional machinist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with conventional machinist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new conventional machinist

   Once you've selected the best conventional machinist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new conventional machinist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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