Machinists
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.
Most important skills
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Complex Problem Solving
Key knowledge
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
- Production and Processing
- Design
- Engineering and Technology
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
What the work involves
- Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
- Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
- Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.
- Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
- Lay out, measure, and mark metal stock to display placement of cuts.
- Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated or cooled.
- Operate equipment to verify operational efficiency.
- Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Realistic, Conventional, Investigative.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (35.9% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (20.2%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months (34.2%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 3: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Machinists is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Very low | Lower on contact with others than 86% of occupations compared | 36% of surveyed respondents chose “Contact with others most of the time” |
| Dealing with the public | Low | Lower on dealing with the public than 78% of occupations compared | 39% of surveyed respondents chose “Not important at all” |
| Teamwork | Very low | Lower on teamwork than 82% of occupations compared | 39% of surveyed respondents chose “Very important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Moderate | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 52% of occupations compared | 42% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom” |
| Time pressure | High | Higher on time pressure than 77% of occupations compared | 57% of surveyed respondents chose “Every day” |
| Conflict situations | Very low | Lower on conflict situations than 89% of occupations compared | 45% of surveyed respondents chose “Never” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Very low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 95% of occupations compared | 60% of surveyed respondents chose “Never” |
| Consequence of error | Moderate | Higher on consequence of error than 53% of occupations compared | 25% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: high
- Conflict situations: very low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
- Consequence of error: moderate
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 6.3%
- Occasional contact with others: 11.09%
- Contact with others about half the time: 14.01%
- Contact with others most of the time: 36.23%
- Constant contact with others: 32.37%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2020
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 39.22%
- Fairly important: 14.16%
- Important: 16.25%
- Very important: 2.87%
- Extremely important: 27.49%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2020
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 2.81%
- Fairly important: 9.85%
- Important: 20.98%
- Very important: 39.39%
- Extremely important: 26.97%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2020
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 1.1%
- Very little freedom: 1.1%
- Limited freedom: 17.56%
- Some freedom: 41.77%
- A lot of freedom: 38.46%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2020
Time pressure
- Never: 6.37%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 2.95%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 10.03%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 24.02%
- Every day: 56.63%
n = 30, Incumbent 08/2020
Conflict situations
- Never: 45.33%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 23.48%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 12.56%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 6.18%
- Every day: 12.44%
n = 30, Incumbent 08/2020
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 59.69%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 11.63%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 17.23%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 1.13%
- Every day: 10.31%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2020
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 21.21%
- Fairly serious: 25.09%
- Serious: 6.3%
- Very serious: 24.16%
- Extremely serious: 23.25%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2020
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O*NET-SOC 51-4041.00 · SOC 51-4041 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8