How To Become An NC Machinist: What It Is and Career Path

What is an nc machinist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an nc machinist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $22.01 an hour? That's $45,782 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 3,900 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreNC MachinistUS Average

Salary

3.6

Avg. Salary $45,782

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.8

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 6.35%

Black or African American 4.00%

Hispanic or Latino 14.92%

Unknown 3.73%

White 70.48%

Gender

female 6.90%

male 93.10%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress level

5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an nc machinist

Explore nc machinist education requirements

Most common nc machinist degrees

Associate

26.7 %

High School Diploma

26.7 %

Certificate

16.7 %

Start to develop specific nc machinist skills

Skills	Percentages
CNC	48.90%
Grinders	35.76%
FANUC	5.06%
Engine Lathes	2.54%
RAN	2.38%

Complete relevant nc machinist training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New nc 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 an nc machinist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nc machinist resumes.

Research nc machinist duties and responsibilities

Manage output according to company quality standards and corresponding ISO certification.
Train new employees to set up and operate Cincinnati CNC turning centers, Fadal CNC mills.
Set up and check jigs and fixtures as required in connection with own work.
Change jigs, fixtures and tooling plates, making necessary adjustments to produce parts within specifications.

Prepare your nc machinist resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your nc 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 an nc machinist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable nc machinist resume templates

Build a professional nc 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 nc machinist resume.

Apply for nc machinist jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an nc 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 do nc machinists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Nc machinist reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020

Pros

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.

Cons

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.