Production · Holland code RCI

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.

Also called: CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist), Machinist, Maintenance Machinist, Tool Room Machinist, CNC Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Machinist), Gear Machinist, Machine Repair Person, Manual Lathe Machinist.

O*NET 51-4041.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $58,750; Middle half earn $47,570 to $67,700. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED); 36% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 3 of 5; Medium preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
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.
Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.
Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.

Skills and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Critical Thinking3.1 / 5
Monitoring3.1 / 5
Active Listening3.0 / 5
Speaking3.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension2.9 / 5
Mathematics2.9 / 5

Knowledge areas

Mathematics3.5 / 5
Mechanical3.3 / 5
Production and Processing3.3 / 5
Design3.0 / 5
Engineering and Technology2.7 / 5
English Language2.7 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic100
Investigative45
Artistic16
Social3
Enterprising3
Conventional57

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

numerical tool and process control programmer · DE CNC-Programmierer/CNC-Programmiererin · FR programmeur en informatique industrielle/programmeuse en informatique industrielle
machine operator supervisor · DE Maschinenfabrikaufsichtskraft · FR superviseur d’opérateurs sur machines/superviseuse d’opérateurs sur machines
tool and die maker · DE Werkzeugbautechniker/Werkzeugbautechnikerin · FR ajusteur-outilleur/ajusteuse-outilleuse
metal planer operator · DE Maschinenbediener für Hobelmeißel/Maschinenbedienerin für Hobelmeißel · FR raboteur / raboteuse
screw machine operator · DE Maschinenbediener in der Schraubenherstellung/Maschinenbedienerin in der Schraubenherstellung · FR décolleteur/décolleteuse
computer numerical control machine operator · DE CNC-Anwendungsfachkraft · FR opérateur sur machine à commande numérique par ordinateur/ opératrice sur machine à commande numérique par ordinateur

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out (5222)8,600 employed
Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors (5250)42,900 employed
Metal machining setters and setter-operators (5221)40,400 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Japan

Japan classifies jobs in its own way. The closest category that names the same work is “金属工作機械作業従事者”, which may be narrower or broader than this occupation.

Median monthly pay: ¥277,300; Middle half earn ¥231,100 to ¥331,800 a month.
Workers in the category: 290,010; Regular employees in firms of ten or more.

Scheduled monthly pay before tax, excluding overtime and bonuses, so it is not comparable to the annual figures above. Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025, via e-Stat, under the Japanese Government Standard Terms of Use. The category match was made by hand.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Craft and related trades workers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Craft and related trades workers, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€40,086
Germany	€38,638
Austria	€38,194
Sweden	€37,856
Netherlands	€37,077
Ireland	€36,098
France	€27,145
Italy	€26,488
Spain	€22,817
Portugal	€11,142
Poland	€10,099

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Exposure to AI

This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.87. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.

Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.

Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (51-4041).

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

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