Machinist
Manufacturing · $56,150 median · 12–208 weeks training · Structurally ineligible for Workforce Pell
How we know this
The wage and outlook figures are verified against the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS/OOH 2024), last reviewed June 17, 2026. We show our sources so you can check every number yourself.
Honest tradeoffs
bls projects decline
BLS projects -3% growth 2024-2034 for machinist occupation — the first DECLINE in the NotCollege corpus. CNC automation, factory automation, and offshoring are real factors. General production machining shrinks while specialty work grows.
automation displacement general production
General CNC production work faces material displacement risk over 5-10 years. Lights-out manufacturing (unattended CNC operations) is operationally real at many manufacturers. AI-augmented CAM programming reduces programmer hours per part.
Wages
Earnings by career stage
range · estimatedResearched estimates by experience level, setting, and region — see the full breakdown below. The BLS median is the one figure verified directly against bls.gov.
Pay by stage & setting
- Entry machinist $33-42K at general manufacturing
- Experienced general machinist $48-62K
- CNC operator/programmer $55-72K
- Precision machinist (aerospace, medical devices) $62-85K+
- Tool & die maker $65-90K (separate SOC 51-4111 — closely related advancement)
- Mold maker $60-85K
- Senior CNC programmer / specialty $75-105K+
- Manufacturing engineer (sometimes via experience without degree) $85-115K+. Wage variation primarily driven by specialty (aerospace, medical devices, defense, semiconductor) vs general manufacturing. Defense and aerospace markets pay significantly more than commercial/general work.
Workforce Pell eligibility
Not eligible for Workforce Pell
Training
That's a wide span on purpose: you can start working after a short pre-apprenticeship or entry course, while the longer figure reflects a full apprenticeship. The career ladder below breaks the journey into steps.
Ways in
Paid, on-the-job training combined with classroom hours — you get a wage from day one instead of paying tuition.
Common sponsors: NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills), IAM (International Association of Machinists), Manufacturer apprenticeships (Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Caterpillar, John Deere), ABC (non-union), Community college consortiums
An associate degree or certificate — usually the fastest accredited credential, far cheaper than a four-year school, and often Workforce Pell–eligible.
Credentials you'll earnwith typical prep time
NIMS certifications (CNC Mill, CNC Lathe, Manual Mill, Manual Lathe, Grinding, EDM)
NIMS
Industry-standard credentialing; portable across employers; preferred at most manufacturers.
Source ↗Cost vs. payoff
Cost vs. payoff
- Training cost
- $0–$25,000
- Time to start earning
- ~12 weeks
- Pays for itself in
- about 5 months
- Typical debt
- ~$30,000
- Time to start earning
- ~4 years
- Pays for itself in
- varies widely
We're not anti-college — for many careers a degree is the right call. But the honest gap is real: this path starts paying while a 4-year student is still accumulating cost. Degree figures are a national reference (average borrower debt ~$29–38K; sources vary), not a guarantee for any specific school or major.
Getting started — your first moves
- 1
Find an apprenticeship
Apply to a registered apprenticeship — you earn a paycheck from day one while you train, instead of paying tuition.
- 2
Earn your first credential
Study for and pass the NIMS certifications (CNC Mill, CNC Lathe, Manual Mill, Manual Lathe, Grinding, EDM).
- 3
Get hired and grow
Land an entry role and start building experience — pay climbs as you move up the career ladder above.
See it where you live
The figures above are national. Pay and programs vary a lot by state — pick yours and we'll send you straight to the official local data, no guessing.
Career ladder
CNC Operator (entry)
Entry$41,000Entry; production operation; foundation for advancement
Training: 12-15 week CNC operator cert + NIMS Operator-level
Journey Machinist (setup + production)
Year 3$56,000Skilled machinist; setup capability
Training: NIMS Mill + Lathe + Setup credentials + 2-3 years experience
CNC Programmer / Precision Machinist
Year 6$75,000Senior tech tier; specialty work pays premium
Training: CAM mastery + 5-axis programming + advanced NIMS + aerospace/medical device experience
Senior Programmer / Tool & Die / Manufacturing Engineer
Year 12$100,000Ceiling tier; specialty pays significantly above general machining
Training: Specialty depth + leadership + sometimes BS Manufacturing Engineering
State licensure
No state-specific licensure requirements documented in corpus.
Data limitations
- • BLS OEWS May 2025 detail tables not yet pushed
- • Wage direct verification recommended
- • Per-state and per-MSA machinist wage tables
- • Manufacturer apprenticeship details + cohort sizes
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