How to hire a journeyman machinist

How to hire a journeyman machinist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step journeyman 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 journeyman machinist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new journeyman machinist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a journeyman machinist job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your journeyman machinist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a journeyman machinist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a journeyman machinist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a journeyman machinist that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of journeyman machinists.

   Type of Journeyman Machinist	Description	Hourly rate
   Journeyman 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.	$17-33
   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:

   • Manual Lathes
   • Grinders
   • Hand Tools
   • CNC Vertical
   • Calipers
   • Machine Shop Equipment
   • Operate CNC
   • Jigs
   • GD
   • Comparators
   • CAD
   • Drill Press
   • Gearboxes
   • Aerospace

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage output according to company quality standards and corresponding ISO certification.
   • Use CMM for 1st article inspection.
   • Inspect parts off cmm and adjust offsets accordingly.
   • Experience using micrometers, calipers, indicators, and other precision measuring tools.
   • Used micrometers, calipers, probing systems to verify precise measurements and make accurate cuts.
   • Plan, design, engineer, fabricate new tools, jigs, fixtures and hot form bending dies.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, journeyman machinists' average salary in oklahoma is 39% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level journeyman machinists earn 46% less than senior-level journeyman machinists.
   • Certifications. A journeyman 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 journeyman machinist's salary.

   Average journeyman machinist salary

   $50,598yearly

   $24.33 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level journeyman machinist salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a journeyman machinist job description

   A good journeyman machinist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a journeyman machinist job description:

   Journeyman machinist job description example

   Hypertherm is seeking a full-time Journeyman Machinist on Second Shift for our Kent, Washington location. The ideal candidate will have the ability to shape the Machining function from the bottom up. Working with our machine shop, you will create what success will look like for our Waterjet business.
   
   As a 100% Associate-owned, global leader in providing advanced industrial cutting solutions, Hypertherm offers a collaborative work environment while promoting empowerment and a positive work-life balance.
   
   If this sounds like an exciting opportunity, here are some other ways you'll help positively impact our business as a Journeyman Machinist:
   
   Set-up and operate CNC lathes, mills and machining centers with minimal supervision Train and mentor fellow OMAX machinists Actively participate in process improvement exercises Study drawings, manuals, specifications and instructions to determine dimensions and tolerances of finished work-piece, sequence of operations and set-up requirements Based upon documented set-up instructions, select, align and secure work-holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories and materials on machines to manufacture parts as drawing-specified During set-up, observe machine operation to detect malfunctions or out-of-tolerance machining, and adjust machine controls as needed. Change cutting tools as needed Perform part inspections by verifying conformance of finished product to specifications, using measuring and inspection tools. OMAX will provide all necessary measuring and inspection tools Perform routine maintenance tasks on machines as per protocol Continue to grow lean knowledge and use the lean tools to identify and assist with continuous improvement Ensure that safe work practices are maintained
   Who you are and the experience you will bring:
   10+ years' experience setting up and operating manual and CNC machines High School diploma or GED required Ability to utilize math skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, Cartesian coordinate system and geometry Ability to effectively utilize measuring instruments such as calipers, micrometers, bore gages, height gage, comparator and dial indicator Skill in reading and interpreting documents such as work orders, drawings, manuals, set-up instructions and safety regulations Strong ability to work in a team focused environment Must be able to read and comprehend instructions as well as possess good oral communication skills
   
   Preferred experience to differentiate you:
   Associates Degree or Certification in related field preferred
   
   Location: Kent, WA
   
   Why join Hypertherm?
   Collaborative, 100% employee-owned culture Profit-Sharing and Employee Stock Ownership (ESOP) Sign on bonus as a new hire for this role Paid Community Service Time Strong commitment to Environmental Stewardship Stable, growing organization with a no-layoff philosophy
   
   Hypertherm is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and we welcome all applications. All employment decisions are based on business need, job requirements and our values as an associate-owned company without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
   CURRENT ASSOCIATES OR TEMPORARY ASSOCIATES: Please apply via your internal Workday career account.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right journeyman machinist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with journeyman 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 journeyman machinist

   Once you've decided on a perfect journeyman machinist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new journeyman 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a journeyman machinist?