Machinists

Detailed Occupation

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2024 Workforce

346k

Average Age

45.7

Estimated Job Growth

0.0334%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$61,305

Average Male Salary

$62,080

Average Female Salary

$44,358

About

Machinists are most often employed by the Machine shops; turned product; screw, nut & bolt manufacturing industry. The average yearly wage for Machinists was $61,305 in 2024.

The locations that employ the most Machinists are Cook County (Northwest)--Hanover & Schaumburg (Northwest) Townships PUMA, IL, Washington & Ozaukee Counties PUMA, WI, and Anoka County (Southwest)--Coon Rapids, Fridley, Columbia Heights & Anoka Cities PUMA, MN. The locations with a relatively high concentration of Machinists are Cook County (Northwest)--Hanover & Schaumburg (Northwest) Townships PUMA, IL, Crawford & Warren Counties PUMA, PA, and Kosciusko & Marshall Counties PUMA, IN.

Production Occupations Production, Transportation, & Material Moving Occupations

Employment

Employment and salary information for the Machinists workforce. Machinists workforce in 2024 was 345,614 people, of which 4.37% were women and 95.6% were men.

Machinists are paid most in Los Angeles County (Southeast)--Bellflower & Paramount Cities PUMA, CA but are relatively concentrated in Cook County (Northwest)--Hanover & Schaumburg (Northwest) Townships PUMA, IL.

Employment Over Time

Metric

Grouping

330,508

Male Workforce

± 14.1k

15,106

Female Workforce

± 3.02k

The Machinists workforce in 2024 was 345,614 people (4.37% women and 95.6% men). This implies an average annual growth of −3.82% between 2014 (359,357) and 2024 (345,614).

Employment by Location

Level

Metric

This map shows the states in the United States shaded by average wage for Machinists.

During 2024, the states that concentrated the best average annual wage were Louisiana ($79,684), Washington ($74,494), and Maryland ($73,240).

Yearly Wage Ranking

$61,305

AVERAGE WAGE

#221 in the ranking (2014)

$69,878

NATIONAL AVERAGE WAGE

For all occupations across the US

In 2024, Machinists earned an average of $61,305, $8,573 less than the average national salary of $69,878

The graph shows the ranking of Machinists in relation to all Detailed Occupation in 2014.

In 2024, Machinists had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.272, which is lower than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Machinists (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

The graphic shows the distribution of average salaries by buckets for Machinists compared to the entire workforce in the country.

Industry

Information on the industries that employ Machinists and on wages for those in the field. Machine shops; turned product; screw, nut & bolt manufacturing is the industry that employs the most Machinists, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Machinists, by average wage, is Metals & minerals (except petroleum) merchant wholesalers ($197,475).

Occupations by Industries

Metric

Value

346k

2024 Workforce

± 14,417

−0.562%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 5.92%

This graphic shows the share of Machinists employed by various industries. Machine shops; turned product; screw, nut & bolt manufacturing employs the largest share of Machinists at 55.3%, followed by Machinery manufacturing, n.e.c. or not specified with 19.3% and Aircraft & parts manufacturing with 16.7%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Machinists in the US. The workforce of Machinists in 2024 was 345,614 people, with 4.37% woman, and 95.6% men. The average age of male Machinists in the workforce is 45.8 and of female Machinists is 44.4, and the most common race/ethnicity for Machinists is White.

Gender and Age

Metric

The workforce of Machinists in 2024 was 345,614 people, with 4.37% woman, and 95.6% men.

The age ranges that concentrated the largest workforce were 55 to 59 years (46,071 people), 60 to 64 years (44,481 people), and 50 to 54 years (40,518 people). Among them they concentrated 38% of the total workforce.

Ethnicity

Gender

In 2024, 13% of Machinists workers were Hispanic and 87% non-Hispanic.

The treemap shows the distribution of Hispanic workers according to their origin, highlighting Mexican (70.2%), Puerto Rican (6.5)%, and All Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino (5.55)%

You can review this information by gender using the selectors above.

Races

In 2024, 74.7% of the Machinists workforce were White, of which 3.67% were women and 96.3% men. Other races that concentrated a significant number of workers were Two or More Races (9.05%) and Asian (5.43%).

Education & Skills

Data on higher education choices for Machinists from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Machinists is Business but the most specialized major according to RCA in 2024 were MILITARY SCIENCE, LEADERSHIP AND OPERATIONAL ART.

Among the necessary skills for Machinists, Operation and Control stands, but the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) shows that Machinists need more than the average amount of Installation.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

Type of Majors

Degree

The most common majors achieved by Machinists in 2024 (counting all academic degrees) were Business (3,137 people), Engineering (3,054 people), and Education (962 people).

You can review this information for different academic grades by modifying the option selected in the selector above.

Education Levels

Metric

The main educational levels achieved by the Machinists workers were High School or Equivalent (157,906 people), Some college (95,069 people), and Associates Degree (46,481 people).

The graphic shows the Machinists workforce by gender and educational level.

Skills

Chart

Value

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for Machinists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Machinists need many skills, but most especially Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking.

Projections

Projections on job growth for Machinists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.07%, but Machinists are expected to see a growth of 0.0334% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow less than the national average.

Job Growth

0.0334%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.07%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Machinists. This profession is expected to grow less than than 3.07%, the average rate of national job growth.