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Maintenance machinist vs machinist

The differences between maintenance machinists and machinists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a maintenance machinist and a machinist. Additionally, a maintenance machinist has an average salary of $52,077, which is higher than the $42,147 average annual salary of a machinist.

The top three skills for a maintenance machinist include CNC, grinders and hand tools. The most important skills for a machinist are grinders, cnc machines, and micrometers.

Maintenance machinist vs machinist overview

Maintenance MachinistMachinist
Yearly salary$52,077$42,147
Hourly rate$25.04$20.26
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs83,04215,448
Job satisfaction55
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 40%
Average age4848
Years of experience44

What does a maintenance machinist do?

A Maintenance Machinist is responsible for implementing and maintaining industrial machinery. Their primary duties include investigating and diagnosing equipment failures and performing corrective actions.

What does a machinist do?

Machinists are skilled professionals who create metal works by using different machines. They work with clients to bring their clients' vision to life. They study the blueprints of the product that needs to be done and identify the parts that will need fabrication through machining. They then prepare the materials and equipment. Machinists use different tools such as grinders, drills, lathes, polishers, and milling equipment to create parts that are made of metal. They may sometimes work with other materials such as wood or plastic, but this is seldom. Machinists are expected to be proficient in the use of the machines, to be precise with their work, and can work within the committed timeline.

Maintenance machinist vs machinist salary

Maintenance machinists and machinists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Maintenance MachinistMachinist
Average salary$52,077$42,147
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $74,000Between $29,000 And $59,000
Highest paying CityKent, WAEugene, OR
Highest paying stateWashingtonMassachusetts
Best paying companyCity of SeattleWestinghouse Appliances Australia
Best paying industryTechnologyAutomotive

Differences between maintenance machinist and machinist education

There are a few differences between a maintenance machinist and a machinist in terms of educational background:

Maintenance MachinistMachinist
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 40%
Most common majorPrecision Metal WorkingPrecision Metal Working
Most common college--

Maintenance machinist vs machinist demographics

Here are the differences between maintenance machinists' and machinists' demographics:

Maintenance MachinistMachinist
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 94.0% Female, 6.0%Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 70.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 6.7% White, 70.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage3%3%

Differences between maintenance machinist and machinist duties and responsibilities

Maintenance machinist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and perform programming of CNC mills, lathes and EDM equipment, instrumentation, data acquisition and control systems.
  • Set up and operate machine tools, mills, lathes, radial drills, vertical turret lathe, and surface grinders.
  • Certify with, and task with training others in, SolidWorks and CamWorks.
  • Set up and run lathes, mills, I.D.
  • Program, set-up, and run HAAS VF-3 milling center.
  • Used various micrometers for measuring.
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Machinist example 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
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Maintenance machinist vs machinist skills

Common maintenance machinist skills
  • CNC, 11%
  • Grinders, 9%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Calipers, 6%
  • Manual Lathes, 5%
  • Machine Tools, 4%
Common machinist skills
  • Grinders, 9%
  • CNC Machines, 9%
  • Micrometers, 8%
  • Calipers, 8%
  • Machine Shop, 6%
  • CNC Lathes, 6%

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