As the name suggests, a machinist is a person in charge of operating all the industrial machines that play an essential role in a business’s supply chain. The work of a machinist revolves around choosing, controlling, operating and maintaining manufacturing equipment that may be manual, computer numerical controlled (CNC) or both. A machine plays an essential role in optimizing the manufacturing process by improving the efficiency and performance of the equipment. If you are someone with excellent hand-eye coordination and a passion for working with technology, then the work of a machinist might be perfect for you.
To better understand the job profile of a machinist, we begin by looking at three resumes of people working in the field.
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Job duties of a machinist
The most critical work of a machinist is to operate and work with industrial equipment and machine tools to optimize all supply chain operations. They need to effectively operate the machinery to carry out the desired tasks and complete the necessary supply chain procedures. They must also have the ability to carry out maintenance measures and repairs in case of any damage. Overall, you need excellent manual dexterity and sound technical knowledge to become a machinist.
Following are the job duties that a machinist has to carry out on a day-to-day basis:
Study and analyze blueprints, samples and instructions to carry out the manufacturing process.
Determining the machinery and tools to be used so that various operations can be done efficiently.
Follow specified measurements and make adjustments based on the needs of the situation to produce the desired output.
Specifying machine output rate, batch size, etc., to ensure production of adequate output.
Efficiently operate heavy-duty machinery and industrial equipment to carry out necessary tasks and procedures.
Comply with safety regulations and standards while operating machinery to ensure that the final goods are not hazardous due to defects.
Carry out inspections of the final products to recognize any defects and make a note of the same.
Inspect the industrial machinery and tools used for any damages and carry out repairs to mitigate the same.
Machinists median salaries
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for machinists in the U.S. stands at $47,040. This salary can vary depending on the level of experience that a machinist possesses and the exact industry the person works in.
Top skills for machinists
Machinists set up and operate various conventional, special purpose machines and machining centers to fabricate metallic and nonmetallic parts. A machinist produces machined parts by programming, setting up and operating a computer numerical control (CNC) machine, maintaining quality and safety standards, keeping records and maintaining equipment and supplies in optimal condition. Let’s dissect the skills you’ll need to be successful in this role:
- Read and interpret blueprints: As a machinist, you must read and work from blueprints, technical plans, sketches and part drawings. As part of your daily duties, you must review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences and fabricate tooling, sometimes with a minimum of information, to develop a sequence of methods for making parts in a production environment
- Perform math and measuring: A machinist role demands strong math skills, specifically geometry and trigonometry and the ability to read tape measures precisely, calipers, micrometers and gauges. This is required to measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. You must also use these skills to calculate the dimensions of workpieces, products or equipment. You’ll be applying a basic understanding of trigonometry for surface plate work, such as measuring angles of parts, measuring roll dimensions, projecting theoretical sharps, etc. These skills and the ability to read blueprints with a basic understanding of geometric dimensioning are essential for the role.
- Proper equipment operation: By the nature of the job, machinists must have general mechanical knowledge of machines and tools, including their design, use, repair and maintenance. You should be mechanically inclined to successfully set up and operate a large variety of hand tools, machine tools and know-how to work power tools, forklifts, welding equipment and a cutting torch. You should also be capable of using standard precision measuring instruments such as dial calipers and micrometers. The goal of correctly using all these tools and equipment is to set up and perform precise machining and CNC machining operations to fabricate production quantities and complete manufacturing operations at maximum capacity and efficiency
- Equipment troubleshooting and repair: Performing required equipment maintenance is also an essential part of the role. You can accomplish this by using all machine shop inspection equipment and electrical/electronic instruments to perform routine inspection techniques and procedures. You must also perform troubleshooting and repair of mechanical issues. Also, writing, editing and troubleshooting programs at the machine control is a beneficial skill.
- Advanced welding skills and quality assurance: As a machinist, you must weld up damaged shafts and worn areas on equipment to make mechanical repairs. You must have the ability to weld with gas-tight seals, wire and solder connections, drill/tap holes and bend and bond piping. You must also be familiar with laser tool setting devices and touch probes to safely and efficiently produce machine parts as needed to specifications. Machinists must also perform quality assurance analysis of work products. You must adhere to and maintain quality work practices, qualifications and procedures and inspect all incoming orders to assure the material and order documentation meet required manufacturing specifications. Often, you must verify conformance of finished work to specifications employing self-inspections. You must also document actions by completing production and quality assurance logs
- Cleanliness and safety-oriented: Maintaining a clean and organized work area is essential when working with so many tools and materials. Thus, a necessary duty of a machinist’s role is to keep an orderly shop and execute preventive maintenance on the shop tools and equipment to maintain a tidy work area. When working with dangerous tools, it’s important to maintain safe operations and adhere to safety procedures and regulations by keeping excellent safety standards in the fabrication process. A machinist must comply with all safety regulations and policies associated with assigned duties and work location and comply with all company safety regulations and procedures. To be safe while performing your daily tasks, you must practice safety and good manufacturing disciplines in all projects.
- Interpersonal and communication skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary to effectively collaborate with all employees, customers and management and respond to instructions and assignments. For the same purpose, strong interpersonal skills and good judgment with the ability to work alone or as part of a team is necessary. Another reason why communication skills are required for the role is that you must complete and maintain accurate records for each job and enter that information into software records. So, you’ll need the ability to write routine reports and correspondence. You’ll also be conferring with engineers, production personnel, programmers or others to resolve machining or assembly problems.
- Physical endurance: On top of some machinist roles needing to be willing and able to work 8, 10 and 12-hour shifts, holidays, weekends, overtime and call-ins as required, you must also be physically strong. That’s because the job entails being able to lift up to 75 pounds, stand and walk for prolonged amounts of time and be able to twist, bend and squat periodically.
Educational requirements for machinists
Degree
Although some roles call for a high school diploma or GED, others prefer candidates with formal education in the form of an associate degree in machining, an apprenticeship or a trade school. However, if you have enough hands-on experience in the field, the diploma or GED will suffice. Depending on the role, you can expect to be required to have between one to five years of experience in a similar position.
Some associate degrees you can consider to get you started on your search for the required education are: Central Lakes College offers associate degrees in CNC Technologies, Robotics/Automated Systems Technology and Welding and Fabrication. Southern Maine Community College offers a degree program in Precision Machining and Manufacturing. Mesa Community College offers a degree program in Manufacturing Production Technology and Welding. Shoreline Community College offers a degree in Manufacturing/Machinist Technology.
If you prefer to learn while on the job, though, then you might prefer to consider an Apprenticeship. Gateway Technical College offers an apprenticeship in Machine Repair, Machinist, Maintenance Mechanic/Millwright Maintenance Technician and Tool and Die. In an internship, you get work experience, a salary and an education all in one. The catch is that you need to find an employer who is willing to hire you as an apprentice, and then the college’s Apprenticeship Department will provide the classes section of the program.
You can also consider getting a Technical Diploma. Gateway Technical College offers a technical diploma in Welding/Maintenance and Fabrication, which teaches the basics and a Welding technical diploma, which is more advanced. In these courses, you’ll learn blueprint interpretation, layout and welding through hands-on projects and practice. They also offer a CNC Production Technician diploma and CNC Programmer diploma. Meanwhile, Central Lakes College has a diploma in Machine Operations you can consider. They also offer a diploma in CNC Technologies, Heavy Equipment Operation & Maintenance and Welding and Fabrication.Certification
While you don’t need a specific license for this role, some certifications are required for most positions. For example, you’ll need a machining certification to learn to read blueprints and other important job skills. Also, courses, specializations and certifications that demonstrate your skills in CNC equipment operation are a plus. Some roles also require basic CAD experience, so that is another good option. Let’s take a look at some of the available certifications out there so you can find the best one for you:
Universities and colleges: Gateway Technical College offers a few certificates in Advanced Gas Metal Arc Welding. They also have an Advanced Manufacturing Specialist certificate that gets you certified as an Automation and Control Technician. Other options are a CAD Technology one, CNC Operator or Quality Control Technician, which teaches about safety and blueprint reading. Central Lakes College also has some great certifications for Machine Technology, Production Technologies, Robotic Manufacturing, Robotic Welding Advanced Certificate and Robotic Welding. Southern Maine Community College offers a certificate in CNC Machine Operation and Community College of Baltimore County offers a credit certificate in CNC Machinist. Pennsylvania College of Technology offers one too.
Mesa Community College also offers a certificate in CNC Machine Operator, CNC Machining I and II and a variety of certifications in Welding. Santa Ana College offers a certificate in Conventional Machining, which teaches you to read blueprints, technical mathematics, CNC program writing and many other necessary skills for the role. They also offer useful ones in CNC. Front Range Community College has Machining Programs and Certificates you can also consider.
Organizations and associations: The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International® (FMA) has a few offerings of certificate programs in metal fabrication that include Metal Fabrication Fundamentals, Laser Welding Certificate, Machine Safeguarding Certificate, Machine Tool Service Technician Certificate and more.
The OSHA Training Institute Education Centers offer a few safety certifications you can consider getting, such as Certified Occupational Safety Specialist – COSS®.
For-profit online education companies: Another good option is to check out platforms like Coursera. You can start by checking out their Autodesk CAD/CAM/CAE for Mechanical Engineering Specialization.
Machinist resume-writing tips
Certain tips can help you stand out when you apply for a machinist position. These can help you put your best foot forward by conveying a crisp yet powerful message about why you will be ideal for the job.
Follow these tips to write an excellent resume:
- Reflect your achievements in your experiences: Employers want to look at your work experiences to assess your potential to perform well. More experience does usually equate to more honed skills and spontaneity at work. However, if you want to make this message more apparent in your resume, you can make your work experiences more achievement-oriented. This means that instead of just including a profile of the tasks you carried out, you must also include how your efforts benefited the organization. For example, as a machinist, you can discuss how you improved efficiency by 28% by rectifying production process errors.
- Order your resume sections by your strength Employers usually do not spend much time going through resumes. The impression that the first third of your resume creates the maximum impact on the reader. As a result, it is important to order your resume sections so that your strengths are at the top. For example, if you are highly experienced, place your experiences at the beginning. On the other hand, if you are a beginner machinist, focus on your skills and certifications.
- Avoid including excessive generic skills: The work of a machinist is highly technical. As a result, any employer will focus more on your professional skills and training than your soft skills. While possessing important soft skills like effective communication and team playing are equally important, hard skills such as your expertise with CNC and manual machinery will create a better impression. This does not mean that you exclude soft skills completely. You should be wary of using them excessively.
FAQ
Is being a machinist a dying trade?
There is a popular misconception that the work of a machinist might be a dying trade. This is very far from the truth. The job outlook of machinists is projected to grow by 3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What are the working hours of a machinist?
The work of a machinist usually takes place in shifts. As a result, there may be days when you have to work at odd hours. A typical workweek for a machinist stands at about 40 hours. However, it is not uncommon for overtime to be necessary during peak production periods.