How to become a machinist
Machinists typically need a high school diploma and are trained on the job; some learn through training or apprenticeship programs, vocational schools, or community and technical colleges. Machinists earned a median $58,750 a year in May 2025, and BLS projects 1% growth in the job count from 2025 to 2035, with about 26,100 openings a year. Typical entry education: high school diploma or equivalent.
The steps
- Finish high school or the equivalent. Machinists typically need a diploma or equivalent. High school courses in math, blueprint reading, metalworking and CAD/CAM are considered useful.
BLS wording
“Machinists typically need a high school diploma or equivalent; tool and die makers also may need to complete postsecondary courses. High school courses in math, blueprint reading, metalworking, and CAD/CAM are considered useful.”
- Or take a machining certificate or degree. Some community colleges and technical schools offer two-year degree programs or shorter nondegree certificate programs. These programs usually teach design and reading engineering drawings, welding and cutting tools, and the programming and function of CNC machines.
BLS wording
“Some community colleges and technical schools have 2-year degree programs or shorter nondegree certificate programs that train students to become machinists or tool and die makers. These programs usually teach design and how to read engineering drawings, the use of a variety of welding and cutting tools, and the programming and function of CNC machines.”
- Train on the job or in an apprenticeship. Trainees usually learn on the job, often starting as machine operators and gradually taking on harder assignments. Some new workers enter apprenticeships, typically sponsored by an employer, which often combine paid on-the-job training and related technical instruction over several years.
BLS wording
“Trainees usually learn on the job, which may include technical instruction outside of typical work hours. Trainees often begin as machine operators and gradually take on more difficult assignments. ... Some new workers enter apprenticeship programs, which are typically sponsored by an employer. Apprenticeship programs often consist of paid training on the job and related technical instruction lasting several years.”
- Consider optional certification. Certification is optional, lets you demonstrate competency and may help with advancement. Colleges and organizations offer certifications in CNC machine operation, CAD/CAM technology and other competencies.
BLS wording
“Completing a certification program, though optional, allows machinists and tool and die makers to demonstrate competency and may be helpful for advancement. Colleges and organizations offer certifications and credentials in CNC machine operation, CAD/CAM technology, and other relevant competencies.”
Steps follow the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machinists and Tool and Die Makers, read 2026-09-23.
How long it takes
Training on the job is the usual route, and the Handbook classes it as long-term on-the-job training; some community colleges and technical schools offer two-year degrees or shorter certificates, and apprenticeships often last several years.
What it costs
No state license fee is sourced here for machinists. Apprenticeship programs often include paid training on the job.
License requirements by state
Do you need a license? The Handbook names no license for machinists; certification is optional. No state licensing records are sourced here for machinists; the 51 state pages carry pay and employment.
Apprenticeships
Programs are typically sponsored by an employer and often combine paid on-the-job training with related technical instruction over several years; the instruction may be given with local community colleges and vocational-technical schools. Workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter. The federal Apprenticeship Finder searches apprenticeship openings by occupation and by city, state or ZIP code. Apprenticeship Finder →
BLS wording
“Some new workers enter apprenticeship programs, which are typically sponsored by an employer. Apprenticeship programs often consist of paid training on the job and related technical instruction lasting several years. The technical instruction may be provided in cooperation with local community colleges and vocational-technical schools. Workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter an apprenticeship.”
U.S. Department of Labor records list 2,427 registered apprentices active across the 50 states and DC in fiscal year 2024 under the occupation titles DOL maps to machinists; the state pages give each state's count and, where enough apprentices carry a wage DOL counts, the median starting and completing wages (how they are counted). Apprentice counts and wages in every state → · what those wages come to at your hours a week →
What machinists earn, by state
Machinists (SOC 51-4041) earned a national median of $58,750 a year in May 2025, $28.24 an hour, with 287,050 employed. Hawaii paid the most, $84,410, 44% above the national median.
Top five by median annual wage: Hawaii ($84,410), Alaska ($77,670), District of Columbia ($72,900), Massachusetts ($67,270), Washington ($66,160). Lowest five: West Virginia ($47,350), Tennessee ($49,600), South Dakota ($50,890), Oklahoma ($51,120), Arkansas ($51,140).
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $84,410 | $40.58 | $55,950 | $106,970 | 260 | 0.4 |
| 2 | Alaska | $77,670 | $37.34 | $50,900 | $105,540 | 120 | 0.4 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $72,900 | $35.05 | $56,570 | $98,850 | 160 | 0.2 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $67,270 | $32.34 | $47,910 | $93,330 | 7,080 | 1.9 |
| 5 | Washington | $66,160 | $31.81 | $48,360 | $101,110 | 6,880 | 1.9 |
| 6 | Oregon | $63,820 | $30.68 | $47,040 | $86,580 | 2,760 | 1.4 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $63,190 | $30.38 | $46,170 | $90,740 | 3,210 | 0.7 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $63,070 | $30.32 | $37,430 | $91,650 | 290 | 1.0 |
| 9 | Vermont | $62,680 | $30.14 | $40,670 | $95,690 | 220 | 0.7 |
| 10 | Delaware | $62,650 | $30.12 | $41,710 | $95,660 | 310 | 0.6 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $62,130 | $29.87 | $43,900 | $82,630 | 5,240 | 3.1 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $61,820 | $29.72 | $47,810 | $80,030 | 560 | 1.3 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $61,500 | $29.57 | $44,720 | $84,080 | 1,620 | 2.4 |
| 14 | Virginia | $61,290 | $29.47 | $45,120 | $86,380 | 5,660 | 1.4 |
| 15 | Utah | $61,280 | $29.46 | $43,160 | $80,110 | 3,810 | 2.2 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $61,140 | $29.39 | $46,550 | $80,380 | 12,500 | 4.2 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $61,110 | $29.38 | $39,930 | $84,930 | 4,640 | 2.4 |
| 18 | Arizona | $61,080 | $29.37 | $40,290 | $76,610 | 4,330 | 1.3 |
| 19 | Montana | $60,920 | $29.29 | $37,940 | $81,810 | 630 | 1.2 |
| 19 | New York | $60,920 | $29.29 | $40,560 | $84,440 | 9,400 | 1.0 |
| 21 | Colorado | $60,200 | $28.94 | $44,650 | $84,510 | 2,800 | 1.0 |
| 22 | Maryland | $59,810 | $28.76 | $42,950 | $81,880 | 1,380 | 0.5 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $59,440 | $28.58 | $39,250 | $90,170 | 690 | 0.8 |
| 24 | Texas | $59,180 | $28.45 | $38,600 | $83,070 | 21,700 | 1.5 |
| 25 | Maine | $59,160 | $28.44 | $45,760 | $78,380 | 1,780 | 2.8 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $59,110 | $28.42 | $40,600 | $76,280 | 12,700 | 4.3 |
| 27 | Idaho | $58,810 | $28.28 | $38,450 | $81,920 | 1,070 | 1.3 |
| 28 | Missouri | $58,710 | $28.23 | $44,120 | $84,150 | 8,380 | 2.9 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $58,660 | $28.20 | $39,070 | $78,020 | 6,040 | 3.0 |
| 30 | Illinois | $58,520 | $28.13 | $38,390 | $78,290 | 16,520 | 2.7 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $57,970 | $27.87 | $38,270 | $75,650 | 3,790 | 1.6 |
| 32 | Ohio | $57,940 | $27.86 | $38,070 | $76,530 | 17,110 | 3.1 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $57,810 | $27.79 | $39,620 | $77,090 | 12,380 | 2.0 |
| 34 | Indiana | $57,800 | $27.79 | $39,400 | $73,500 | 14,320 | 4.5 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $57,760 | $27.77 | $39,720 | $82,400 | 860 | 1.7 |
| 36 | Iowa | $57,540 | $27.66 | $44,500 | $71,160 | 2,880 | 1.8 |
| 37 | California | $57,190 | $27.49 | $37,440 | $88,280 | 18,950 | 1.0 |
| 38 | Florida | $57,140 | $27.47 | $39,870 | $76,220 | 8,400 | 0.8 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $55,860 | $26.86 | $39,770 | $88,130 | 1,810 | 1.8 |
| 40 | Alabama | $55,560 | $26.71 | $37,770 | $79,380 | 5,170 | 2.4 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $55,550 | $26.71 | $34,570 | $76,670 | 1,920 | 1.7 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $55,230 | $26.56 | $37,110 | $75,570 | 8,330 | 1.7 |
| 43 | Nevada | $53,050 | $25.51 | $39,420 | $77,290 | 900 | 0.6 |
| 44 | Georgia | $52,610 | $25.29 | $37,060 | $77,420 | 6,090 | 1.2 |
| 45 | Michigan | $52,360 | $25.17 | $38,370 | $75,330 | 20,350 | 4.6 |
| 46 | Kansas | $51,220 | $24.63 | $38,240 | $74,920 | 3,870 | 2.7 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $51,140 | $24.59 | $37,760 | $78,400 | 2,150 | 1.6 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $51,120 | $24.58 | $36,380 | $70,870 | 4,230 | 2.5 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $50,890 | $24.47 | $39,280 | $60,840 | 830 | 1.8 |
| 50 | Tennessee | $49,600 | $23.85 | $37,560 | $70,430 | 8,270 | 2.5 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $47,350 | $22.77 | $37,300 | $71,980 | 1,700 | 2.4 |
"Per 1,000 jobs" is how concentrated the trade is in that state's workforce. A state can pay well and still have few openings; the employment column and this one together say how much of a market there is.
As files: pay by state (CSV) · pay by metro area (CSV) · all files and how to credit them.
Job outlook, 2025 to 2035
BLS projects 1% growth in employment from 2025 to 2035 (288,300 to 291,200 jobs) and about 26,100 openings a year over the decade, counting growth and replacement.
| Figure | 2025 | 2035 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | 288,300 | 291,200 | +3,000 (1%) |
| Openings a year, average | 26,100 | ||
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | ||
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, Table 1.2 Occupational projections, 2025–35, and worker characteristics, 2025, retrieved 2026-10-03. Openings count growth plus the workers who leave the occupation.
Common questions
How long does it take to become a machinist?
Training on the job is the usual route, and the Handbook classes it as long-term on-the-job training; some community colleges and technical schools offer two-year degrees or shorter certificates, and apprenticeships often last several years.
How much does it cost to become a machinist?
No state license fee is sourced here for machinists. Apprenticeship programs often include paid training on the job.
Do you need a license to be a machinist?
The Handbook names no license for machinists; certification is optional.
How much do machinists make?
Machinists earned a median $58,750 a year in May 2025 ($28.24 an hour). The 10th to 90th percentile range is $39,200 to $80,010; Hawaii pays the most at $84,410.
What is the job outlook for machinists?
BLS projects 1% growth in employment from 2025 to 2035 (288,300 to 291,200 jobs) and about 26,100 openings a year over the decade, counting growth and replacement.
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machinists and Tool and Die Makers, read 2026-09-23: the steps, training length and licensing pattern.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, retrieved 2026-10-03: every wage and employment figure. How the numbers are built.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, Table 1.2, retrieved 2026-10-03: growth, openings and entry education.