To become a machinist you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, then you learn through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship. Some people take a 2-year degree or a shorter certificate at a community college or technical school first. Certification is optional, but it can help you show your skills and move up.
Machinists set up and run machine tools that cut and shape metal into precise parts. Today that usually means computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines as well as lathes, mills and grinders, and the accuracy needed can be extreme.
The US facts come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook profile for machinists and tool and die makers, and the UK route comes from the National Careers Service CNC machinist profile. I read both as of October 2026.
Machinist pay and jobs at a glance
| Measure | BLS figure |
|---|---|
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Median pay, machinists (May 2025) | $58,750 a year |
| Median pay, tool and die makers (May 2025) | $64,050 a year |
| Jobs in 2025, machinists | 288,300 |
| Projected change, machinists, 2025 to 2035 | Growth of 1% |
| Openings each year, machinists and tool and die makers | About 30,400 |
These are May 2025 medians, as published as of October 2026. BLS projects the wider group to decline 1%, but machinists on their own grow slightly, and openings stay high because so many people retire or move on.
How to become a machinist, step by step
- Finish high school. BLS says courses in math, blueprint reading, metalworking and CAD/CAM are useful.
- Choose how you'll train. You can learn on the job, enter an apprenticeship, or take a college program first.
- Start as a machine operator. BLS says trainees often begin there and gradually take on harder work.
- Learn the computer side. You'll need to be comfortable with CAD/CAM, CNC machine tools and computerized measuring machines.
- Add a certification. Colleges and organizations offer credentials in CNC operation and CAD/CAM. They're optional but can help you advance.
What you'll make and do
BLS lists the core tasks. You'll read blueprints and CAD/CAM files, set up and run manual and CNC machine tools, align and secure cutting tools and workpieces, watch the feed and speed of each machine, then turn, mill, drill, shape and grind parts to spec before checking they meet the requirements.
It isn't all mass production. BLS says precision machinists often make small batches or single items, and it gives steel bolts, titanium bone screws and automobile pistons as examples. On a CNC machine, you're the one who programs the cutting path, speed and feed rate, so you'll be part programmer and part craftsperson.
Apprenticeship or college?
Both work, and they suit different people. BLS describes apprenticeships as usually run by an employer, with paid on-the-job training and technical instruction that lasts several years. You usually need a high school diploma to start.
College programs are quicker to begin. Some community colleges and technical schools offer 2-year degrees or shorter certificates that teach design, reading engineering drawings, welding and cutting tools, and CNC programming. If you want to earn while you learn, the apprenticeship is the better bet. If you want a head start before applying, a certificate helps.
Machinist or tool and die maker?
They share a BLS profile but they're different jobs. Tool and die makers may need postsecondary courses, and they earn more, with a median of $64,050 against $58,750 for machinists. BLS notes that some machinists go on to become tool and die makers, so it's a natural next step once you've built your skills.
Where machinists earn the most
Fabricated metal product manufacturing is the biggest employer, with 35% of machinist jobs, but it isn't the top payer. BLS reported these medians for May 2025:
| Industry | Median pay, machinists (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | $61,920 |
| Machinery manufacturing | $59,590 |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | $54,910 |
| Wholesale trade | $54,220 |
| Employment services | $39,830 |
The lowest figure is worth noticing. Employment services, which usually means agency work, pays far less, so a direct job with a manufacturer is the better target once you have experience.
Skills and safety
BLS says the work can demand accuracy to within .0001 of an inch, which takes concentration and steady hands. You'll need analytical skills to read blueprints, mechanical skills to run milling machines, lathes and grinders, and the stamina to stand for long periods.
Safety is part of the job. BLS notes that machinists wear protective equipment, such as safety glasses against flying metal and earplugs against machine noise. Some also work nights and weekends where plants run around the clock.
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If you enjoy metalwork but want more variety, see how to become a welder. And if you're curious about the programs behind CNC work, my list of the best CNC software shows the tools you'll meet in a modern shop.
The UK route
In the UK the National Careers Service lists a T Level in Engineering, Manufacturing, Processing and Control, and apprenticeships including the Engineering Operative Level 2 and the Machining Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship. If you already have experience with CNC machine tools, you can apply for jobs directly.
Plenty of readers look at more than one career before choosing, and the ironworker career guide adds another to the list.
My verdict
Machining is one of the more accessible skilled trades: a high school diploma and the willingness to learn on the job are enough to start. Growth is flat, but there are about 30,400 openings a year. Aim for an employer-run apprenticeship or a direct manufacturing job, learn CNC and CAD/CAM early, and treat tool and die work as your next step up.
Readers weighing their options often ask about the next one, which the solar panel installer career guide answers.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a degree to be a machinist?
No. BLS says machinists typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship.
How long does a machinist apprenticeship take?
BLS says apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training and technical instruction lasting several years, and are usually run by an employer.
How much do machinists make?
BLS reported a median of $58,750 a year for machinists and $64,050 for tool and die makers in May 2025, as of October 2026.
What's the difference between a machinist and a tool and die maker?
Machinists make precision metal parts, while tool and die makers make the tools, molds and dies used in production. Tool and die makers earned a higher median in May 2025.
Is CNC machining a good career?
It's a skilled trade with steady demand. BLS projects about 30,400 openings a year for machinists and tool and die makers, mostly from people retiring or changing jobs.
