Machine Operator Education Requirements And Courses

Machine operator education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, machine operators don't need a college education. The most common degree for machine operators is high school diploma with 53% graduates, with only 16% machine operator graduates earning associate degree. Machine operators who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Central State University. Some good skills to have in this position include basic math, cnc and math.

Popular machine operator certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate , Forklift Safety and Inspector, or EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA). To improve machine operator qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in machine operator education paths.

What education do you need to become a machine operator?

What degree do you need to be a machine operator?

The most common degree for machine operators is high school diploma, with 53% of machine operators earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 16% and associate degree degree at 14%.

High School Diploma, 53%

Associate, 16%

Diploma, 14%

Bachelor's, 11%

Other Degrees, 6%

What should I major in to become a machine operator?

You should major in business to become a machine operator. 23% of machine operators major in business. Other common majors for a machine operator include general studies and criminal justice.

Business, 23%

General Studies, 14%

Criminal Justice, 7%

Computer Science, 5%

Other Majors, 51%

Best majors for machine operators

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	22.6%
2	General Studies	13.7%
3	Criminal Justice	7.2%
4	Computer Science	5.2%
5	Electrical Engineering	4.9%

Show more common machine operator majors

20 best online courses for machine operators

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A Deep Dive into the theory and application of the 7 Quality Tools for root cause analysis and continuous improvement...

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Plain and Simple Clause by Clause Explanation of ISO 9001:2015 QMS Standard & Implementation Strategies...

Average machine operator salary by education level

Machine operators with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $33,934 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, machine operators earn a median annual income of $33,680 compared to $33,434 for machine operators with an High School Diploma degree.

Machine operator education level	Machine operator salary
High School Diploma or Less	$33,434
Bachelor's Degree	$33,680
No Education	$32,332
Some College/ Associate Degree	$33,934