Machinists
Also called: CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist), Machinist, Maintenance Machinist, Tool Room MachinistSet 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 8 of its 29 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 1.0% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 2.0% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 5.4 hires for every 10 job openings in durable goods manufacturing, which employs about 81% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.5.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,560 | $46,340 to $66,190 | 5,170 |
| Alaska | $77,670 | $63,360 to $96,640 | 120 |
| Arizona | $61,080 | $48,890 to $66,460 | 4,330 |
| Arkansas | $51,140 | $45,280 to $61,380 | 2,150 |
| California | $57,190 | $46,360 to $74,210 | 18,950 |
| Colorado | $60,200 | $49,170 to $74,110 | 2,800 |
| Connecticut | $62,130 | $49,900 to $76,040 | 5,240 |
| Delaware | $62,650 | $48,310 to $75,500 | 310 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 | $56,570 to $72,900 | 160 |
| Florida | $57,140 | $47,300 to $63,860 | 8,400 |
| Georgia | $52,610 | $43,480 to $64,180 | 6,090 |
| Hawaii | $84,410 | $63,380 to $92,750 | 260 |
| Idaho | $58,810 | $47,630 to $71,070 | 1,070 |
| Illinois | $58,520 | $46,380 to $65,620 | 16,520 |
| Indiana | $57,800 | $47,870 to $62,440 | 14,320 |
| Iowa | $57,540 | $49,190 to $61,530 | 2,880 |
| Kansas | $51,220 | $45,050 to $61,450 | 3,870 |
| Kentucky | $58,660 | $48,560 to $71,530 | 6,040 |
| Louisiana | $61,110 | $49,030 to $75,170 | 4,640 |
| Maine | $59,160 | $50,090 to $72,640 | 1,780 |
| Maryland | $59,810 | $47,530 to $74,290 | 1,380 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 | $57,690 to $78,640 | 7,080 |
| Michigan | $52,360 | $46,260 to $62,300 | 20,350 |
| Minnesota | $61,140 | $50,320 to $74,650 | 12,500 |
| Mississippi | $55,550 | $43,270 to $63,330 | 1,920 |
| Missouri | $58,710 | $48,880 to $72,540 | 8,380 |
| Montana | $60,920 | $48,030 to $68,760 | 630 |
| Nebraska | $55,860 | $45,600 to $67,430 | 1,810 |
| Nevada | $53,050 | $46,090 to $62,830 | 900 |
| New Hampshire | $61,500 | $49,840 to $71,980 | 1,620 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 | $51,110 to $79,330 | 3,210 |
| New Mexico | $59,440 | $46,300 to $72,690 | 690 |
| New York | $60,920 | $48,040 to $74,180 | 9,400 |
| North Carolina | $55,230 | $45,300 to $62,680 | 8,330 |
| North Dakota | $61,820 | $49,300 to $74,670 | 560 |
| Ohio | $57,940 | $46,460 to $64,050 | 17,110 |
| Oklahoma | $51,120 | $45,670 to $62,050 | 4,230 |
| Oregon | $63,820 | $52,930 to $76,070 | 2,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,810 | $47,410 to $63,700 | 12,380 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,280 | $23,600 to $38,040 | 1,250 |
| Rhode Island | $57,760 | $49,320 to $71,820 | 860 |
| South Carolina | $57,970 | $46,970 to $65,290 | 3,790 |
| South Dakota | $50,890 | $46,280 to $58,750 | 830 |
| Tennessee | $49,600 | $43,200 to $61,220 | 8,270 |
| Texas | $59,180 | $47,630 to $69,800 | 21,700 |
| Utah | $61,280 | $49,920 to $74,390 | 3,810 |
| Vermont | $62,680 | $47,650 to $78,260 | 220 |
| Virginia | $61,290 | $49,900 to $71,470 | 5,660 |
| Washington | $66,160 | $58,760 to $80,340 | 6,880 |
| West Virginia | $47,350 | $39,180 to $59,910 | 1,700 |
| Wisconsin | $59,110 | $48,430 to $63,350 | 12,700 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 | $47,090 to $78,990 | 290 |
Nationally: $58,750. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 8 of its 29 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers. | Not published |
| Not much | Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders. | Not published |
| Not much | Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers. | Not published |
| Not much | Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations. | Not published |
| Not much | Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines. | Not published |
See all 29 tasks
| Not much | Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process. | Not published |
| AI + software | Evaluate machining procedures and recommend changes or modifications for improved efficiency or adaptability. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Operate equipment to verify operational efficiency. | Not published |
| Not much | Diagnose machine tool malfunctions to determine need for adjustments or repairs. | Not published |
| Not much | Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products. | Not published |
| Not much | Dispose of scrap or waste material in accordance with company policies and environmental regulations. | Not published |
| Not much | Separate scrap waste and related materials for reuse, recycling, or disposal. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with engineering, supervisory, or manufacturing personnel to exchange technical information. | Not published |
| AI + software | Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools. | Not published |
| AI + software | Confer with numerical control programmers to check and ensure that new programs or machinery will function properly and that output will meet specifications. | Not published |
| Not much | Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated or cooled. | Not published |
| Not much | Fit and assemble parts to make or repair machine tools. | Not published |
| Not much | Lay out, measure, and mark metal stock to display placement of cuts. | Not published |
| Not much | Support metalworking projects from planning and fabrication through assembly, inspection, and testing, using knowledge of machine functions, metal properties, and mathematics. | Not published |
| AI + software | Design fixtures, tooling, or experimental parts to meet special engineering needs. | Not published |
| Not much | Dismantle machines or equipment, using hand tools or power tools to examine parts for defects and replace defective parts where needed. | Not published |
| Not much | Set up or operate metalworking, brazing, heat-treating, welding, or cutting equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Install repaired parts into equipment or install new equipment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Establish work procedures for fabricating new structural products, using a variety of metalworking machines. | Not published |
| Not much | Test experimental models under simulated operating conditions, for purposes such as development, standardization, or feasibility of design. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare working sketches for the illustration of product appearance. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Advise clients about the materials being used for finished products. | 0.03% |
| Not much | Install experimental parts or assemblies, such as hydraulic systems, electrical wiring, lubricants, or batteries into machines or mechanisms. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 3 of the 29 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 29 tasks fall under 26 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #8 Read documents or materials to inform work processes
- #14 Create visual designs or displays
- #31 Program computer systems or production equipment
- and 2 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measure physical characteristics of materials, products, or equipment | |||
| Advise others on business or operational matters | |||
| Communicate with others about operational plans or activities | |||
| Test performance of equipment or systems | |||
| Assemble equipment or components | |||
| Monitor equipment operation | |||
| Position workpieces or materials on equipment | |||
| Operate cutting or grinding equipment |
Show all 26 activities
| Operate industrial processing or production equipment | |||
| Read documents or materials to inform work processes | |||
| Create visual designs or displays | |||
| Program computer systems or production equipment | |||
| Determine operational methods or procedures | |||
| Diagnose system or equipment problems | |||
| Plan work activities | |||
| Set up equipment | |||
| Maintain tools or equipment | |||
| Sort materials or products | |||
| Test characteristics of materials or products | |||
| Dispose of waste or debris | |||
| Disassemble equipment | |||
| Repair tools or equipment | |||
| Position materials or components for assembly | |||
| Design industrial systems or equipment | |||
| Prepare industrial materials for processing or use | |||
| Join parts using soldering, welding, or brazing techniques |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Advice or a recommendation21%
- An explanation or answer16%
- A document or report14%
- A plan or strategy10%
- A chart or visualization8%
How they worked with Claude
48% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for machinists specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 25,747 moves out
- 1 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 6%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 3 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 4 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators High -9.4% 4%
- 5 First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers High +1.8% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 26,952 moves in
- 1 Production Workers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 6%
- 2 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators High -9.4% 5%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
- 5 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 14% less than high school
- 36% high school
- 33% postsecondary certificate
- 17% some college
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 27 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 9% less than high school
- 44% high school
- 27% some college
- 15% associate's
- 4% bachelor's
- 1% master's
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 3,661 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
2 programs: Machine Tool Technology/Machinist and Machine Shop Technology/Assistant.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
15.8% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | 1.4% | 19.1% |
| a certification | 7.4% | 5.8% |
| an educational certificate | 1.4% | 2.8% |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 12 registered apprenticeships in this occupation. Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Machinists” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
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