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What is a manual machinist and how to become one
If you are a handyman and are able to create tools with a great deal of precision, then a career as a manual machinist is just for you. As a manual machinist, it is your responsibility to use machines to create a range of parts, from automotive and aerospace parts to fabricated metal and wood product parts.
Your duties as a manual machinist include machines' operation, studying blueprints, and ensuring that these tools fit the specifications on their blueprint. On a daily basis, you are required to cut, drill and shape parts that make up the bigger items. This job requires you to adhere to safety regulations as you will be working with heavy, dangerous machinery, glass, and metals in industries and factories.
In order to become a manual machinist, you need to be dextrous and work with high precision and accuracy. Seeing as you will regularly work with blueprints and ensure that tools meet their specifications, you need to be observant and detail-oriented. In order to venture into this industry, no pun intended, you would need to undergo training and attain a certification to work as a manual machinist from a machining and tooling association.
Avg. Salary $48,038
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 1%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%
Asian 6.30%
Black or African American 3.95%
Hispanic or Latino 14.61%
Unknown 3.73%
White 70.90%
Genderfemale 3.16%
male 96.84%
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
Manual machinist career paths
Key steps to become a manual machinist
Explore manual machinist education requirements
Start to develop specific manual machinist skills
Skills Percentages Grinders 10.34% Calipers 10.16% CNC 10.08% ID 5.43% Machine Shop 5.27% Complete relevant manual machinist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New manual machinists 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 manual machinist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real manual machinist resumes.Research manual machinist duties and responsibilities
- Measure and assemble sewing control panel frames of various material (stainless steel, carbon and aluminum).
- Set up and operation of Bridgeport mills, lathes and surface grinders to produce details for precision ball screw assemblies.
- Complete fabrication and machine shop work with MIG, TIG and stick welders, manual and CNC mills and lathes.
- Operate towmotor, and mig welder
Prepare your manual machinist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your manual machinist 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 manual machinist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
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Build a professional manual machinist 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 manual machinist resume.
Apply for manual machinist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a manual machinist 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 manual machinist job
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Average manual machinist salary
The average manual machinist salary in the United States is $48,038 per year or $23 per hour. Manual machinist salaries range between $35,000 and $64,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do manual machinists rate their job?
Manual machinist reviews
I love the work. Lots of job satisfaction. Steady work. 45yrs with the same company. I love it!
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.
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
