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What is a machinist apprentice and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a machinist apprentice. For example, did you know that they make an average of $18.12 an hour? That's $37,681 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 3,900 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreMachinist ApprenticeUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $37,681

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.8

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 6.28%

Black or African American 3.91%

Hispanic or Latino 14.43%

Unknown 3.73%

White 71.14%

Gender

female 5.13%

male 94.87%

Age - 49
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49
Stress level
5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Machinist apprentice career paths

Key steps to become a machinist apprentice

  1. Explore machinist apprentice education requirements

    Most common machinist apprentice degrees

    High School Diploma

    39.1 %

    Associate

    26.3 %

    Bachelor's

    17.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific machinist apprentice skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CNC Lathes23.39%
    Grinders9.60%
    Hand Tools6.94%
    Calipers6.82%
    Math5.26%
  3. Complete relevant machinist apprentice training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New machinist apprentices learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a machinist apprentice based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real machinist apprentice resumes.
  4. Research machinist apprentice duties and responsibilities

    • Design and construct intricate EDM electrodes.
    • Set up and operate Mazak machining centers.
    • Work with manual lathe, mill and EDM to repair parts for production.
    • Set up and operate CNC and manual machining equipment for high precision aerospace components.
  5. Prepare your machinist apprentice resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your machinist apprentice resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a machinist apprentice resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable machinist apprentice resume templates

    Build a professional machinist apprentice resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your machinist apprentice resume.
    Machinist Apprentice Resume
    Machinist Apprentice Resume
    Machinist Apprentice Resume
    Machinist Apprentice Resume
    Machinist Apprentice Resume
    Machinist Apprentice Resume
    Machinist Apprentice Resume
    Machinist Apprentice Resume
    Machinist Apprentice Resume
  6. Apply for machinist apprentice jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a machinist apprentice job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first machinist apprentice job

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Average machinist apprentice salary

The average machinist apprentice salary in the United States is $37,681 per year or $18 per hour. Machinist apprentice salaries range between $30,000 and $46,000 per year.

Average machinist apprentice salary
$37,681 Yearly
$18.12 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do machinist apprentices rate their job?

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Machinist apprentice reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

The different machines it takes to get a job done from boring machines,finish hone machine sunnen [cv616] Sunnen block and head surfacer,working on heads, guide work valve jobs surfacing assembly its working on something different from small blocks to big block chevy to fords.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Constant Challenge making each day unique and fun. Not hard physical labor but mentally challenging. Constantly evolving skillset in an industry that is always changing and growing.

Cons

Some places are straight production shops and there will be limited opportunities to grow in them. When you make a mistake it can be huge and cost 10s of thousands of dollars to fix so you are often on edge.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Its calming and fun and they always smell nice when ur making them and I have a hard time with people I'm shy so making things helps

Cons

The. Hot part in wax


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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