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What is a precision machinist and how to become one
Avg. Salary $51,634
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 1%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.54%
Asian 6.94%
Black or African American 4.77%
Hispanic or Latino 11.73%
Unknown 3.75%
White 72.27%
Genderfemale 5.48%
male 94.52%
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
Precision machinist career paths
Key steps to become a precision machinist
Explore precision machinist education requirements
Start to develop specific precision machinist skills
Skills Percentages CNC 30.96% Grinders 11.79% Calipers 6.25% G Code 5.32% Manual Machines 4.93% Complete relevant precision machinist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New precision 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 precision machinist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real precision machinist resumes.Research precision machinist duties and responsibilities
- Manage output according to company quality standards and corresponding ISO certification.
- Programme, set up and operate Charmille 290f wire EDM with Fanuc controls.
- Manufacture plates using CMS mills and Haas gantry mills.
- Work on EDM, manual milling, turning and engraving machines.
Prepare your precision machinist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your precision 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 precision 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 precision machinist resume templates
Build a professional precision 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 precision machinist resume.
Apply for precision machinist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a precision 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 precision machinist job
Are you a precision machinist?
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Average precision machinist salary
The average precision machinist salary in the United States is $51,634 per year or $25 per hour. Precision machinist salaries range between $38,000 and $68,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do precision machinists rate their job?
Precision machinist 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!
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.
I love the complexity and challenging, complex work involved in the Medical manufacturing sector. Mentoring younger machinists and problem solving and being hands on with complex CNC machines, including multi axis machines including 4&5 axis mills and multi axis mill-turn machines.
Poor communication with the engineering department and faulty equipment.
Updated January 8, 2025
