How to hire a machinist

How to hire a machinist, step by step

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

What does a machinist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your 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 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 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 machinist that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Machinist	Description	Hourly rate
   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.	$13-28
   Tool And Die Maker	A tool and die maker is responsible for operating various mechanical tools and equipment to create components, metal parts, and other tools for a wide range of industries. Tool and die makers analyze schematics and blueprints to assemble parts and verify dimensions accurately... Show more	$19-32
   Numerical Control Programmer	A numerical control programmer is responsible for designing system programs for the technical components used by various industrial operations to function automatically. Numerical control programmers operate machine tools, analyzing its schematics to create a program, and increase the efficiency of its operational properties... Show more	$18-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Grinders
   • CNC Machines
   • Micrometers
   • Calipers
   • Machine Shop
   • CNC Lathes
   • Hand Tools
   • Math
   • Shop Equipment
   • Machine Operation
   • Gas Welding
   • Aerospace
   • Operate CNC
   • Drill Press

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage output according to company quality standards and corresponding ISO certification.
   • Measure parts using micrometers, calipers, bore gauges, depth gauges, height gauges and CMM programs.
   • Utilize CNC lathes, mills, grinders, EDM s and other equipment to manufacture implants and/or instruments.
   • Operate manual machines such as engine lathe, boring mill, vertical and horizontal milling machines, grinders and honing machines.
   • Emphasize the ability to use dial calipers and micrometers to provide consistent repeatable measurements.
   • Operate manual/CNC lathes and used industry standard measuring equipment including manual/digital calipers, manual/digital micrometers and optical comparators

   More machinist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your machinist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A machinist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a machinist in Nebraska may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level machinist usually earns less than a senior-level machinist. Additionally, a machinist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average machinist salary

   $42,147yearly

   $20.26 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level machinist salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

   Average machinist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$53,096	$26
   2	Washington	$52,534	$25
   3	Virginia	$48,799	$23
   4	California	$47,571	$23
   5	New York	$46,751	$22
   6	Minnesota	$46,425	$22
   7	Maine	$44,602	$21
   8	North Dakota	$44,380	$21
   9	Texas	$42,219	$20
   10	Ohio	$41,820	$20
   11	Missouri	$41,357	$20
   12	Arizona	$41,174	$20
   13	Indiana	$40,354	$19
   14	Illinois	$40,305	$19
   15	Colorado	$39,827	$19
   16	Michigan	$39,440	$19
   17	North Carolina	$39,285	$19
   18	Wisconsin	$39,105	$19
   19	Tennessee	$37,896	$18
   20	Florida	$36,198	$17

   Average machinist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Westinghouse Appliances Australia	$78,854	$37.91	4
   2	Amphenol	$72,682	$34.94	6
   3	Jacobs Engineering Group	$72,642	$34.92
   4	Google	$69,316	$33.33
   5	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$68,372	$32.87	9
   6	BWX Technologies	$68,243	$32.81	10
   7	ABB	$66,790	$32.11	1
   8	Schneider Electric Industrial Services	$65,918	$31.69
   9	BlackRock	$65,020	$31.26	1
   10	Capco	$64,549	$31.03
   11	Applied Materials	$63,203	$30.39
   12	General Electric	$63,076	$30.32	36
   13	Curtiss-Wright	$62,755	$30.17	48
   14	MTS Systems	$62,561	$30.08
   15	Granite Construction	$62,462	$30.03	1
   16	Ball	$61,976	$29.80	2
   17	AMETEK	$61,538	$29.59	18
   18	Graco	$61,472	$29.55	1
   19	Barnes Group	$61,249	$29.45	14
   20	GPAC	$61,001	$29.33

4. Writing a machinist job description

   A 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a machinist job description:

   Machinist job description example

   Job Title: Machinist
   Pay Rate: $19.17 - $34.74/hr. based on experience
   Shift: Rotating 1st & 2nd shifts
   
   Machinery Manufacturing has an opening for a machinist. Preferred candidate must have a thorough knowledge of machine shop equipment and have at least 5 years' experience working with manual lathes, mills, grinders, keyseater, boring mill, and drill presses. In addition, the preferred candidate must have a good working knowledge of all types of CNC equipment and prior experience in assembly or fabrication work using a blueprint. A technical degree in Machine Shop is preferred.
   Applicant will be required to move from one machine or job assignment to another when the work load shifts. Candidate must be able to work with minimal supervision. Additionally, this job will require rotating first and second shifts on a weekly basis. Applicants must be willing to work overtime including weekends and holidays, when needed.
   
   Duties will include but are not limited to:
   Responsible for operating and knowing how to program an NC Lathe & NC Mill.Proficient in G-code or conversational programming.Be able to set-up machine and make fixtures for individual parts.Know speeds and feeds of different types of materials and tooling.Be proficient in reading standard and metric blueprints along with knowing GD&T.Be able to check own parts, using machine shop measuring instruments (OD/ID mic's, calipers, depth mic's, scales, tape measure) Be proficient in basic math and geometry.Be familiar with programming software (Espree, or MasterCam etc).Maintains safe operation by adhering to safety procedures and regulations.Maintains continuity with partner on other shift by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs.Be able to rotate between 1st and 2nd shift on a weekly basis.
   
   We care about YOU through employee development, providing excellent benefits, investing in your future and valuing diversity and inclusion.
   
   Apply today to join our team!
   
   We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find machinists for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any machinists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level machinists with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit machinists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 machinist

   Once you've decided on a perfect 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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How much does it cost to hire a machinist?