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Maintenance machinist vs outside machinist

The differences between maintenance machinists and outside 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 an outside machinist. Additionally, a maintenance machinist has an average salary of $52,077, which is higher than the $42,858 average annual salary of an outside machinist.

The top three skills for a maintenance machinist include CNC, grinders and hand tools. The most important skills for an outside machinist are hand tools, calipers, and condensers.

Maintenance machinist vs outside machinist overview

Maintenance MachinistOutside Machinist
Yearly salary$52,077$42,858
Hourly rate$25.04$20.60
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs83,04224,075
Job satisfaction54
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 36%
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 an outside machinist do?

An outside machinist specializes in installing and repairing machinery and equipment in water vessels such as ships and submarines. They have a wide range of responsibilities, which typically include understanding blueprints and schematics, fixing and assembling parts, operating power tools, connecting pipe systems, conducting inspections, and providing support to staff as needed. They must also perform regular maintenance checks to ensure the quality and efficiency of machinery. Moreover, as an outside machinist, it is vital to maintain an active communication line with team members for a safe and efficient workflow.

Maintenance machinist vs outside machinist salary

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

Maintenance MachinistOutside Machinist
Average salary$52,077$42,858
Salary rangeBetween $36,000 And $74,000Between $32,000 And $57,000
Highest paying CityKent, WABremerton, WA
Highest paying stateWashingtonAlaska
Best paying companyCity of SeattleOceaneering
Best paying industryTechnologyEnergy

Differences between maintenance machinist and outside machinist education

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

Maintenance MachinistOutside Machinist
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 31%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorPrecision Metal WorkingBusiness
Most common college--

Maintenance machinist vs outside machinist demographics

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

Maintenance MachinistOutside Machinist
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 94.0% Female, 6.0%Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%
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 outside 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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Outside machinist example responsibilities.

  • Manage other employees to ensure members' needs are met and operations run smoothly.
  • Operate winches, hoists, indoor cranes, and hydraulic equipment.
  • Machine types: Haas and Okuma ,
  • Observe safety procedures and maintain safe work area in accordance with OSHA guidelines.
  • Manufacture and repair shipyard equipment with hydraulic automatic saws, radial drills and surface grinders.
  • Install and align condensers, compressors, pumps, force draft blowers, main feed pumps, and various valves.
  • Show more

Maintenance machinist vs outside machinist skills

Common maintenance machinist skills
  • CNC, 11%
  • Grinders, 9%
  • Hand Tools, 7%
  • Calipers, 6%
  • Manual Lathes, 5%
  • Machine Tools, 4%
Common outside machinist skills
  • Hand Tools, 15%
  • Calipers, 8%
  • Condensers, 6%
  • Shipyard, 5%
  • Evaporators, 5%
  • Ladders, 4%

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