### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Machinists and Tool and Die Makers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            									
							
				                                                
                                            




            			machinists and tool and die makers imageMachinists and tool and die makers set up and operate many different machines.							
						Quick Facts:     Machinists and Tool and Die Makers2023     Median Pay
            						$53,180     per year
										$25.57     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    See How to Become OneWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Long-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    389,700Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    0% (Little or no change)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    1,000What Machinists and Tool and Die Makers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate equipment to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Machinists and tool and die makers work in machine shops and factories. Many work full time during regular business hours. However, working overtime, as well as nights and weekends, may be common.
            
                                                How to Become a Machinist or Tool and Die Maker
                                                
                        
Although machinists typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation, tool and die makers also may need to complete postsecondary courses. Machinists and tool and die makers typically are trained on the job. Some learn through training or apprenticeship programs, vocational schools, or community and technical colleges.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for machinists was $50,840 in May 2023.									                                														The median annual wage for tool and die makers was $61,490 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of machinists and tool and die makers is projected to show little or no change							 from 2022 to 2032.
						Despite  limited  employment growth, about 38,200 openings for machinists and tool and die makers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for machinists and tool and die makers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of machinists and tool and die makers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about machinists and tool and die makers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Machinists and Tool and Die Makers Do 
            

						
Machinists and tool and die makers set up and operate a variety of computer-controlled and mechanically controlled equipment to produce precision metal parts, instruments, and tools.
Duties
Machinists typically do the following:
Read detailed drawings or files, such as blueprints, sketches, and those for computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
Set up, operate, and disassemble manual, automatic, and computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools
Align, secure, and adjust cutting tools and workpieces
Monitor the feed and speed of machines
Turn, mill, drill, shape, and grind machine parts to specifications
Verify that completed products meet requirementsTool and die makers typically do the following:
Read detailed drawings or files—such as blueprints, sketches, specifications, and those for CAD and CAM—to make tools, molds, and dies
Compute and verify dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of workpieces
Set up, operate, and disassemble conventional, manual, and CNC machine tools
File, grind, and adjust parts so that they fit together
Test completed tools and dies to ensure that they meet specifications
Smooth and polish the surfaces of tools and dies***Machinists***use lathes, milling machines, grinders, and other machine tools to produce precision metal parts. Many machinists must be able to use both manual and CNC machinery. CNC machines control the cutting tool speed and do all necessary cuts to create a part. The machinist programs instructions into the CNC machine to determine the cutting path, cutting speed, and feed rate.
Although workers may produce large quantities of one part, precision machinists often produce small batches or single items. The parts that machinists make include steel bolts, titanium bone screws, and automobile pistons.
Some machinists repair broken parts or make new parts that an industrial machinery mechanic discovers in a machine. The machinist refers to engineering drawings to create the replacement.
Some manufacturing processes use lasers, water jets, and electrified wires to cut the workpiece. As engineers design and build new types of machine tools, machinists must learn new machining properties and techniques.
***Tool and die makers*** construct precision tools or metal forms, called dies, that are used to cut, shape, and mold metal, plastics, and other materials.
Tool and die makers use CAD to develop products and parts. They enter designs into computer programs that produce blueprints for the required tools and dies. CNC programmers, described in the metal and plastic machine workers profile, convert CAD designs into CAM programs that contain instructions for a sequence of cutting-tool operations. Machinists normally operate CNC machines, but tool and die makers often are trained to both operate CNC machines and write CNC programs and thus may do either task.
 Work Environment
			Machinists and tool and die makersSome machinists and tool and die makers work evenings and weekends because facilities may operate around the clock.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Machinists held about 327,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of machinists were as follows:
        Fabricated metal product manufacturing
                33%Machinery manufacturing
                20Transportation equipment manufacturing
                13Employment services
                4Wholesale trade
                4Tool and die makers held about 62,700 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of tool and die makers were as follows:
        Transportation equipment manufacturing
                26%Machinery manufacturing
                23Fabricated metal product manufacturing
                21Primary metal manufacturing
                6Plastics product manufacturing
                6Injuries and Illnesses
Because machinists and tool and die makers may work with machine tools that present hazards, these workers must take precautions to avoid injuries. For example, workers must wear protective equipment, such as safety glasses to shield against bits of flying metal and earplugs to dampen the noise produced by machinery.
Work Schedules
Many machinists and tool and die makers work full time during regular business hours. However, some work nights and weekends in facilities that operate around the clock. Some work more than 40 hours a week.
 How to Become a Machinist or Tool and Die Maker

			Machinists and tool and die makersMachinists and tool and die makers typically are trained on the job.			
Although machinists typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation, tool and die makers also may need to complete postsecondary courses. Machinists and tool and die makers typically are trained on the job. Some learn through training or apprenticeship programs, vocational schools, or community and technical colleges.
Education
Machinists typically need a high school diploma or equivalent; tool and die makers also may need to complete postsecondary courses. High school courses in math, blueprint reading, metalworking, and CAD/CAM are considered useful.
Some community colleges and technical schools have 2-year degree programs or shorter nondegree certificate programs that train students to become machinists or tool and die makers. These programs usually teach design and how to read engineering drawings, the use of a variety of welding and cutting tools, and the programming and function of CNC machines.
Training
Machinists and tool and die makers typically gain competency through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship.
Trainees usually learn on the job, which may include technical instruction outside of typical work hours. Trainees often begin as machine operators and gradually take on more difficult assignments. Machinists and tool and die makers must be comfortable using computers to work with CAD/CAM technology, CNC machine tools, and computerized measuring machines. Some machinists become tool and die makers.
Some new workers enter apprenticeship programs, which are typically sponsored by an employer. Apprenticeship programs often consist of paid training on the job and related technical instruction lasting several years. The technical instruction may be provided in cooperation with local community colleges and vocational–technical schools. Workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter an apprenticeship.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Completing a certification program, though optional, allows machinists and tool and die makers to demonstrate competency and may be helpful for advancement. Colleges and organizations, such as the National Institute for Metalworking Skills(NIMS), offer certifications and credentials in CNC machine operation, CAD/CAM technology, and other relevant competencies.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Machinists and tool and die makers must be able to interpret technical blueprints, models, and specifications so that they can craft precision tools and metal parts.
***Manual dexterity.*** Machinists’ and tool and die makers’ work demands accuracy, sometimes to within .0001 of an inch. This level of accuracy requires both concentration and agility.
***Mechanical skills.***Machinists and tool and die makers may operate milling machines, lathes, grinders, laser and water jetting machines, wire electrical discharge machines, and other machine tools.
***Physical stamina.*** Machinist and tool and die makers must stand for extended periods and perform repetitious movements.
***Technical skills.*** Machinists and tool and die makers must understand metalworking processes. They must be able to work with CAD/CAM technology, CNC machine tools, and manual and computerized measuring machines.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                        Machinists and Tool and Die MakersMedian annual wages, May 2023Tool and die makers$61,490  Machinists and tool and die makers$53,180  Machinists$50,840  Total, all occupations$48,060  Metal workers and plastic workers$46,860Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for machinists was $50,840 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,690, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $75,820.The median annual wage for tool and die makers was $61,490 in May 2023. 


The lowest 10 percent earned less than $40,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $81,720.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for machinists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Transportation equipment manufacturing
                $57,260Wholesale trade
                51,630Machinery manufacturing
                50,620Fabricated metal product manufacturing
                48,860Employment services
                37,270In May 2023, the median annual wages for tool and die makers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Transportation equipment manufacturing
                $70,070Fabricated metal product manufacturing
                61,630Machinery manufacturing
                60,220Plastics product manufacturing
                59,560Primary metal manufacturing
                49,920The pay of apprentices is tied to their skill level. As they reach specific levels of performance and experience, their pay increases.
Many machinists and tool and die makers work full time during regular business hours. However, some work nights and weekends in facilities that operate around the clock. Some work more than 40 hours a week.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                        Machinists and Tool and Die MakersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Total, all occupations3%  Machinists2%  Machinists and tool and die makers0%  Metal workers and plastic workers-3%  Tool and die makers-8%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of machinists and tool and die makers is projected to show little or no change				 from 2022 to 2032.
			
			Despite  limited  employment growth, about 38,200 openings for machinists and tool and die makers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Projected employment of machinists and tool and die makers varies by occupation (see table).
Although machinists will be required to set up, monitor, and maintain systems, such as computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, autoloaders, and high-speed machining, their employment growth is expected to be limited as improvements in these technologies increase these workers’ efficiency over the projections decade.
Employment of tool and die makers is expected to decline as advances in automation, including CNC machine tools, reduce demand for certain tasks that these workers do, such as programming how parts fit together.
			

                        Employment projections data for     machinists and tool and die makers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Machinists and tool and die makers**
			—
			389,700
			390,700
			0
			1,000
			—**Machinists**
			51-4041
			327,000
			333,300
			2
			6,300
			Get data**Tool and die makers**
			51-4111
			62,700
			57,400
			-8
			-5,300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Machinists
					Tool and die makers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of machinists and tool and die makers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Boilermakers**
            Boilermakers assemble, install, maintain, and repair boilers, closed vats, and other large vessels or containers that hold liquids and gases.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $71,140**Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Machinery Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights**
            Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights install, maintain, and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $61,170**Metal and Plastic Machine Workers**
            Metal and plastic machine workers set up and operate equipment that cuts, shapes, and forms metal and plastic materials or pieces.
            See How to Become One
            $44,880**Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers**
            Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join, repair, or cut metal parts and products.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $48,940
 Contacts for More Information
								
For details about apprenticeships or other work opportunities in this occupation, contact the offices of the state employment service, the state apprenticeship agency, or local businesses that employ machinists and tool and die makers. Apprenticeship information is available from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship program online or by phone at 877-872-5627. Visit Apprenticeship.govto search for apprenticeship opportunities.
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)

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        MachinistsTool and Die Makers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Machinists and Tool and Die Makers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Friday, April 19, 2024


**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics**
Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections 
PSB Suite 2135 
2 Massachusetts Avenue NE  
Washington, DC 20212-0001 Telephone:1-202-691-5700 

www.bls.gov/ooh
Contact OOH