Machinists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$58,750
United States, 2025
Employment
287,050
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
- O*NET code
- 51-4041.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Typical tasks
- Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
- Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
- Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
- Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
- Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
- Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.
- Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
- Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$39,200
25th percentile
$47,570
75th percentile
$67,700
90th percentile
$80,010
Most important skills
- Operation and Control3.3
- Monitoring3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.1
- Troubleshooting3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Quality Control Analysis3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Time Management2.9
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 10 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
10
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.3 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median not published
Compare with MachinistsSupplemental
National median $49,080
Compare with MachinistsSupplemental
National median $43,380
Compare with MachinistsSupplemental
National median $46,550
Compare with MachinistsSupplemental
National median not published
Compare with MachinistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| HI | $84,410 | 260 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $84,410 | 250 | 2025 |
| Florence, AL | $82,690 | 160 | 2025 |
| Bremerton, WA | $80,620 | 370 | 2025 |
| AK | $77,670 | 120 | 2025 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $77,650 | 30 | 2025 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $75,580 | 280 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | $75,040 | 50 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $74,560 | 4,250 | 2025 |
| Bismarck, ND | $74,090 | 70 | 2025 |
| DC | $72,900 | 160 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $72,060 | 4,870 | 2025 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $71,620 | 50 | 2025 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $71,590 | 300 | 2025 |
| Albany, OR | $71,300 | 190 | 2025 |
| Trenton, NJ | $71,290 | 120 | 2025 |
| Duluth, MN | $69,440 | 330 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $68,850 | 620 | 2025 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $68,060 | 110 | 2025 |
| Kennewick, WA | $68,060 | 120 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Machinists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.