How to Become a Machinist

Competent machinists learn self-sufficiency and proficiency in CNC machining techniques like laser etching and engraving, matching small parts, close tolerance matching, building prototypes, milling turning and laser cutting. Your job responsibilities as a journeyman machinist include:

• Learning shop procedures based on company goals
• Maintaining work-order records
• Performing routine maintenance
• Inspecting parts for defects
• Carefully measuring dimensions to conform to industry standards
• Learning the importance of attention to details
• Developing advanced computer skills
• Managing your time efficiently

Other responsibilities and job duties of machinists include:

• Selecting the right machine and settings for a given job
• Taking extremely precise measurements before cutting and shaping parts and components
• Operating and maintaining lathes and milling machines
• Reviewing instructions, blueprints, drawings and samples to ensure accurate production

As the job title indicates, machinists use many types of equipment and machines during the course of a normal day. The most common machines and tools include center punches, calipers, dials, micrometers, edge finders and 6-inch scale rulers. Scientific calculators also come in handy for calculating with sine, cosine and tangent trigonometry functions.

Machinists work in factories, machine shops and assembly lines during regular business hours, but demand and deadlines can easily generate night and weekend work. Usually, you will perform the work indoors, but the spaces often fail to be well-heated or air conditioned. Machinists often receive their instructions personally from supervisors, but they spend a lot of time working alone. You will often wear goggles and earplugs as safety measures, and noisy environments are the norm rather than the exception.

Most machinists can schedule their vacation time with sufficient advance notice, and only high-level supervisors or designers are likely to be held as indispensable. Sometimes, machinists are exposed to toxic substances, equipment safety risks and health hazards.

Your colleagues as a machinist include manufacturing, transportation, and construction workers and their supervisors. Frequently, you work closely with numerical control machine operators, safety inspectors and staff members who monitor compliance issues.

Following safety best practices is also a critical machinist skill, and relying on a work partner can be incredibly useful for watching your back and getting friendly reminders to wear proper safety equipment at all times. Problem-solving skills work more effectively when you become a member of a team and proactively work on safety.

Work schedules for most machinists follow the standard 40-hour week, but many companies offer overtime.

More and more companies offer flexible working conditions, round-the-clock shifts and limited shifts for those who want them like night work or early-morning shifts.

The increase in machinist jobs mirrors the average increase in most industries. One advantage of machinist careers is that they’re usually trained on the job or in programs sponsored by vocational schools, apprenticeship programs and community or technical colleges.

You can get more detailed training and scholarship information to earn higher salaries using several proven techniques. These include finding a training program to become a programmer, a tool and die maker or a mold maker. You can also advance by being promoted to supervisory or administrative positions. Many community college programs offer training programs for similar positions.

Some of the top programs for training include:

• 360 Learning
• Userlane
• Absorb LMS
• Work Ramp
• Talent LMS

Machinist professional organizations include the National Tooling and Machine Association and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Working with Spherion to find a suitable machinist job provides all the benefits of using a top-tier agency. This includes attracting some of the best jobs and having a dedicated contact person who works solely on your behalf while you’re looking for a job. The benefits of working with Spherion include:

• Training opportunities for career advancement
• Wider range of jobs related to machining
• Flexible scheduling
• Weekly pay, which often proves to be a windfall for applicants in financial difficulties
• Finding nearby machinist work opportunities with customized searches

Taking related classes can also help you prepare for the challenges of working as a machinist. An associate degree can be helpful but not strictly necessary. It’s more useful to get educated in business practices, computer science and even artificial intelligence and machine learning if you want to remain in the forefront of modern machining techniques.

Earning related certifications can certainly stand you in good stead on your job search. The most common certifications among machinists include the following:

• Quality control inspector certification
• Master engine machinist certification
• HVAC master specialist certification
• Machining level 1 -- milling certification
• EPA amusement operators’ safety certification
• Machine tools sales engineer certification

Both degree programs and certifications can help you in your determination to become an expert machinist at the highest level of performance. Depending on your patience, personality and accumulated skills, either initiative might be better suited for you.

The skills and competencies of machinists surprisingly include numerous skills for personal and team communications. Most employers list numerical control, CNC machining and blueprint reading at the top of their required skills for machinists. However, an unexpected number of employment professionals list interpersonal skills. Some of the listed skills and competencies for machinists include:

• Solid mathematical skills
• Extensive attention to details, accuracy and safety
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent balance, coordination and mechanical skills
• At least a basic proficiency in computer skills
• Ability to lift 50-pound weights
• Problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities
• Good health and ability to perform repetitive operations
• Blueprint reading proficiency
• Familiarity with numerical control and matching of common machining applications
• Ability to interpret drawings and sketches for CNC machining tasks
• Ability to use drawings and technical reports to interact with other manufacturing workers

Standard machine shop skills include machining, CNC computer programming, LEAN manufacturing techniques and making continuous incremental improvements in products and their functions. Familiarity with productivity-boosting manufacturing tenets is a big advantage for machinist job candidates.

Machinists work hard to manufacture real-world products, and they deserve practical answers to their most pressing questions. The benefits of a career as a machinist include:

• The highest levels of machinists earn attractive incomes, especially for careers that don’t generate burdensome student debt.
• The job outlook remains promising for the next decade as many factories re-tool their manufacturing processes to incorporate AI and machine intelligence.
• Career advancement opportunities are expanding for similar reasons.
• Creating a new tool or equipment design generates substantial job satisfaction.

The average salary of a CNC machinist runs $24.42 per hour. That compares to a salary of $28.57 per hour for CNC programmers and a salary of $20.10 for a CNC operator.

You just need a high school diploma for most entry-level machinist jobs, and most companies offer training as part of the package. Some companies do require expanded qualifications like a driver’s license, the ability to read blueprints and advanced courses in mathematics.

Applying for a machinist job is easy with Spherion. You can use the proprietary search methods for finding machinist jobs based on your location, specific job title, salary requirements and other criteria. If you can’t find the perfect match for your needs, you can submit an open application. Submitting your application, contact information and resume as a Spherion open application triggers a live human response from a nearby information specialist who will inform you about potential jobs, their duties and jobs that match your professional goals and skill set. Check out current machinist jobs to get a better idea of what’s available.