Occupation Summary

Machinists

O*NET 51-4041.00

Description:

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.

Annual Wages:
$53,972.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 23.00%.
Education Level:
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
  2. Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
  3. Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.
  4. Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
  5. Lay out, measure, and mark metal stock to display placement of cuts.
  6. Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated or cooled.
  7. Operate equipment to verify operational efficiency.
  8. Install repaired parts into equipment or install new equipment.
  9. Advise clients about the materials being used for finished products.
  10. Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
  11. Confer with engineering, supervisory, or manufacturing personnel to exchange technical information.
  12. Dismantle machines or equipment, using hand tools or power tools to examine parts for defects and replace defective parts where needed.
  13. Establish work procedures for fabricating new structural products, using a variety of metalworking machines.
  14. Support metalworking projects from planning and fabrication through assembly, inspection, and testing, using knowledge of machine functions, metal properties, and mathematics.
  15. Confer with numerical control programmers to check and ensure that new programs or machinery will function properly and that output will meet specifications.
  16. Fit and assemble parts to make or repair machine tools.
  17. Design fixtures, tooling, or experimental parts to meet special engineering needs.
  18. Prepare working sketches for the illustration of product appearance.
  19. Install experimental parts or assemblies, such as hydraulic systems, electrical wiring, lubricants, or batteries into machines or mechanisms.
  20. Set up or operate metalworking, brazing, heat-treating, welding, or cutting equipment.
  21. Test experimental models under simulated operating conditions, for purposes such as development, standardization, or feasibility of design.
  22. Dispose of scrap or waste material in accordance with company policies and environmental regulations.
  23. Separate scrap waste and related materials for reuse, recycling, or disposal.
  24. Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
  25. Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
  26. Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
  27. Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.
  28. Diagnose machine tool malfunctions to determine need for adjustments or repairs.
  29. Evaluate machining procedures and recommend changes or modifications for improved efficiency or adaptability.

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National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Machinists employed Annual Growth Rate
Machine shops; turned product; and screw, nut, and bolt manufacturing 24.9 0.93
Metalworking machinery manufacturing 6.5 0.81
Employment services 5.6 1.30
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 5.1 0.27
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing 4.5 1.04
Engine, turbine, and power transmission equipment manufacturing 2.3 1.01
Electronic instrument manufacturing 2.2 0.25
Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing 2 0.55


Labor Market Information


2022 Statewide average hourly wage $25.95
2022 National average hourly wage $24.72
2020 National employment 363,000
2020 Texas employment 24,866
Texas projected employment by 2030 30,584
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2030 3,385




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
69.40%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
66.00%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
65.20%
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
60.20%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
54.00%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
54.00%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
48.00%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
47.40%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
44.40%
Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
44.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
65.00%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
62.40%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
62.40%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
62.40%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
60.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
60.00%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
60.00%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
60.00%
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
60.00%
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
60.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
72.40%
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
72.40%
Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
72.40%
Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
70.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
65.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
65.00%
Selective Attention
The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
65.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
65.00%
Visualization
The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
62.40%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
62.40%


  • Controlling Machines and Processes
    -- Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    -- Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Other Activities


  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Adjustable angle plate: Angle plates;

Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable wrenches;

Angle cutter: Undercut tools;

Anvils: Anvils;

Arbors: Grinding wheel arbors;

Ball peen hammer: Ball peen hammers;

Bench dog: Grinding dogs;

Bench vises: Milling vises;

Binocular light compound microscopes: Binocular light compound microscopes;

Blow torch: Torches;

Boring machines: Boring bars; Boring tools; Horizontal boring bars;

Calipers: Vernier calipers; Vernier gear tooth calipers; Outside spring calipers; Inside spring calipers; Hermaphrodite calipers; Dial calipers; Calipers;

Casting machines: Centrifugal spin casters;

Center gauge: Edge finders;

Chamfering machine: Chamfer tools;

Chucks: Chucks;

Cold chisels: Cold chisels; Square chisels;

Column and knee milling machine: Knee mills;

Combination pliers: Combination pliers;

Combination wrenches: Combination wrenches;

Coordinate measuring machines CMM: Coordinate measuring machines CMM;

Cylinder gauge: Ring gauges;

Deburring tool: Deburring tools;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Dial indicator or dial gauge: Dial indicators;

Double ended stud: Shims;

Drill press or radial drill: Sensitive drill presses; Radial drill presses; Radial drills;

Drilling machines: Pillar drill machines; Center drills;

End cut pliers: Side cutting pliers;

Facial shields: Full face shields;

Feeler gauges: Feeler gauges; Angled feeler gauges;

Flat hand file: Flat files;

Forklifts: Forklifts;

Gage block set: Marking blocks; Parallel blocks; V blocks;

Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus: Oxyacetylene welding equipment;

Grinders: Grinders;

Grinding machines: Crankshaft grinders; Valve grinding machines;

Hacksaw: Hacksaws; Power hacksaws;

Half round file: Half-round files;

Hammers: Composition hammers; Machinists' hammers; Brass hammers;

Hand clamps: Hand clamps;

Hand reamer: Reamers;

Height gauges: Planer gauges; Gauges; Height gauges; Vernier height gauges;

Hex keys: Hex keys; Hex wrenches;

Honing machine: Resurfacing machines;

Horizontal machining center: Horizontal mills;

Horizontal turning center: Computerized numerical control CNC turning lathes; Horizontal lathes; Drum lathes; Engine lathes; Flywheel lathes; Turning lathes;

Hydraulic press frames: Hydraulic presses;

Induction heating machine: Heat-treating equipment;

Ladders: Ladders;

Laser printers: Laser printers;

Levels: Spirit levels;

Locking pliers: Channel lock pliers;

Machine end mill: Milling angle form cutters;

Magnetic tools: Magnetic retrievers;

Manual press brake: Arbor presses; Brake presses;

Metal band sawing machine: Bandsaws;

Metal broaching machines: Broachers;

Metal cutters: Aviation snips;

Metal inert gas welding machine: Metal inert gas MIG welders;

Micrometers: Micrometers; Outside micrometers; Inside micrometers;

Mill saw file: Single-cut mill saw files;

Milling machines: Computerized numerical control CNC machining centers; Milling machines;

Multi-tasking or universal machining center: Multi-axis computerized numerical control CNC machines;

Needlenose pliers: Needlenose pliers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers: Personal digital assistants PDA;

Pipe wrenches: Pipe wrenches;

Pitch measuring instruments: Screw pitch gauges;

Planing machines: Planers;

Plasma arc welding machine: Plasma welders;

Platform lift: Platforms; Staging equipment;

Pneumatic sanding machines: Sandblasters;

Power buffers: Buffers;

Power chippers: Chippers;

Power drills: Combination drills; Power drills;

Power grinders: Cylindrical grinders;

Power planes: Jointers;

Power sanders: Power sanders;

Power saws: Cutoff saws; Cold saws;

Protractors: Vernier bevel protractors;

Pry bars: Pry bars;

Punches or nail sets or drifts: Prick punches; Punches;

Putty knives: Putty knives;

Radius gauge: Radius gauges;

Ratchets: Ratchet sets;

Rubber mallet: Rubber mallets;

Rulers: Steel rules;

Safety glasses: Welding lenses;

Saws: Hand saws;

Screwdrivers: Screwdrivers; Spindle blade screwdrivers; Phillips head screwdrivers;

Scribers: Scribers;

Shaper cutter: Shapers;

Sharpening stones or tools or kits: Cylinder honers; Sharpening equipment;

Shears: Metal shears; Shears; Beverly shears;

Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding machine: Shielded arc welding tools;

Sine bar: Sine bars;

Sledge hammer: Sledgehammers;

Slings: Machine shop rigging equipment;

Socket sets: Socket wrench sets;

Spot welding machine: Portable welding equipment; Handheld welders;

Squares: Machinists' squares;

Surface gauge: Surface gauges;

Surface grinding machine: Surface grinding machines;

Swaging tools: Swaging tools;

Taps: Metal cutting taps;

Telescoping gauge: Telescoping gauges;

Thermal spray machine: Metal spray equipment;

Thread counters or gauges: Thread gauges;

Threading die hand tool: Pipe threaders;

Threading machine: Threading machines;

Tongs: Tongs;

Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe: Lathes; Breaker lathes;

Traveling column milling machine: 3-axis computerized numerical control CNC machines;

Tube bending machine: Tube benders;

Tungsten inert gas welding machine: Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment;

Turret lathe: Turret lathes; Vertical turret lathes VTL;

Utility knives: Utility knives;

Vertical machining center: Vertical milling machines;

Wave soldering machine: Soldering equipment;

Wedges: Steel wedges; Wedges;

Welder torch: Brazing equipment;

Welding masks: Welding shields;

Workshop cranes: Workshop cranes;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Armchair Machinist software; CNC Consulting Machinists' Calculator; Kentech Kipware Trig Kalculator;

Computer aided design CAD software: 3D Printing software; Kentech Kipware Studio; OnShape; PTC Creo Parametric; Siemens NX; SolidCAM CAM software; Computer aided design CAD software; Autodesk AutoCAD; Dassault Systemes CATIA;

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks; GRZ Software MeshCAM; IMSI TurboCAD; JETCAM; Autodesk Fusion 360; Autodesk HSMWorks; Computer aided manufacturing CAM software; CNC Mastercam; Vero Software SURFCAM; OneCNC CAD/CAM; Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software; JobBOSS; ERP software;

Industrial control software: EditCNC; Mazak Mazatrol SMART CNC;

Object or component oriented development software: G-code;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Procedure management software: Hexagon Metrology PC-DMIS;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Machinists include:
  • 51-2011.00 Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
  • 51-9161.00 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
  • 51-9162.00 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers
  • 49-9041.00 Industrial Machinery Mechanics
  • 51-4034.00 Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 51-4035.00 Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 51-4081.00 Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
  • 51-4111.00 Tool and Die Makers
  • 51-4194.00 Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
  • 51-4122.00 Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about machinists and tool and die makers, including training and certification, visit 
  • Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA)
  • Manufacturing Institute (MI)
  • National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS)
  • For information about manufacturing careers, including machinery and tool and die makers, visit 
  • American Mold Builders Association (AMBA)
  • Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT)
  • National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA)
  • Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA)
  • Precision Metalforming Association (PMA)
  • Machinists
  • Tool and Die Makers

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.