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What is a machinist/machine builder and how to become one
Avg. Salary $46,357
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 1%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.53%
Asian 6.72%
Black or African American 4.48%
Hispanic or Latino 12.54%
Unknown 3.75%
White 71.99%
Genderfemale 3.70%
male 96.30%
Age - 49American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 49Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Machinist/machine builder career paths
Key steps to become a machinist/machine builder
Explore machinist/machine builder education requirements
Start to develop specific machinist/machine builder skills
Skills Percentages Hand Tools 15.32% Micrometers 8.20% Manual Lathes 5.82% Grinders 5.65% CNC Mill 5.03% Complete relevant machinist/machine builder training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New machinist/machine builders 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/machine builder based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real machinist/machine builder resumes.Research machinist/machine builder duties and responsibilities
- Manage and perform programming of CNC mills, lathes and EDM equipment, instrumentation, data acquisition and control systems.
- Contract machinist Fanuc lathes machining large turbines for use in power generation for Mitsubishi-Hitachi in Savannah Ga.
- Work closely with management and engineering staff to ensure efficient and safe methods are utilized in producing high quality aerospace components.
- Operate manual/CNC lathes and used industry standard measuring equipment including manual/digital calipers, manual/digital micrometers and optical comparators
Prepare your machinist/machine builder resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your machinist/machine builder 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/machine builder 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/machine builder resume templates
Build a professional machinist/machine builder 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/machine builder resume.
Apply for machinist/machine builder jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a machinist/machine builder job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first machinist/machine builder job
Are you a machinist/machine builder?
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Average machinist/machine builder salary
The average machinist/machine builder salary in the United States is $46,357 per year or $22 per hour. Machinist/machine builder salaries range between $33,000 and $63,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do machinist/machine builders rate their job?
Machinist/machine builder reviews
I love the work. Lots of job satisfaction. Steady work. 45yrs with the same company. I love it!
Time pressure to complete jobs. Massive overtime!
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.
The pay.
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.
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.
Updated January 8, 2025
