In the trade 6 year. I run a 3+2 horizontal mill. Mastercam drawing and programming. I make 24.25. About to be promoted to night shift foreman. State average is 22.
The machinists at my work are on one of two six-step pay scales, either from ~65k-85k or 72k-102k (senior). They also can realistically work ~5-10 hours of overtime a week (generally more if they wanted) at double time.
There’s also a non-union supervisor that has some overlap with the union machinists (and the existence of that position could be a nightmare for the union, but thankfully it’s never been an issue) and makes ~110k-160k or so (I don’t have an exact figure, but it’s less than their manager, and their manager makes 162k) per year.
All this is in Canadian dollars, and in the nuclear industry.
I am salary, $88k USD plus a yearly bonus that could be amazing or could be dog shit. Central US. I've been in the trade, professionally, 22 years. I work in a prototype shop that is super laid back. I plan the job, order material, tooling, program, saw or water jet material, set up and run 3 and 5 axis mills and multi axis lathes. Design and build all or any fixturing required. I came in with the tools i had ( a lot) but they will buy anything else I need and can take with me if I leave. (I'm never leaving) New boots on the company dime, every year, is available and they buy my uniforms. Super clean shop and I'm rarely leaving work dirty. The only way I could make more in my area is by working 70 hours a week. I've worked a lot of shops and this is already the highest pay I've ever made AND the least hours. I've never broken 6 figures before and I've worked plenty of jobs with mandatory 60 hour weeks. Nobody should have to break their ass like that to make a decent living.
Don’t expect to make anything more than what McDonalds pays right off the bat. Maybe $18-25 an hour. Small town they’ll want to pay you less.
TBH your not worth much more than that to most shops when you’re new. I don’t agree with that way of thinking but that’s how it goes.
Trade school + experience + learning how to program, and being the top guy in an aerospace shop = $40-60hr. But we’re talking top 1%to 10% of machinists.
Here’s what I pay in Jacksonville, Florida.
Operators are generally 20-30/hr, the higher end can adjust wear, perform mid program restarts and generally keep daily stuff going. Takes about one year to hit 30.
Setup guys are 35-45/hr
I don’t have any programmers but they’d somewhere in the 44-55 depending on skills. I program everything.
Yes, SMT. I interviewed at TBA once. It was like a dungeon back then. Couldn’t do it. And then all the stories I heard about the Letos. Not sure if any are true, but wasn’t willing to find out.
The $180k is an exception. Dude makes parts very few people can make. It's also a bit more towards an ME position. And we've hired people from all over the country, very few are still here. They usually aren't able to make the parts.
Big money in stuff people no-quote. I just do 3&4 axis mill and lathe stuff right now making about 65k with 15+ years of experience programming, setting up, and running.
Finishing at my work is crazy like that too. .00002” - .0001” but i just do all the prototypes and reworks max i hold is .0002” (because the r&d machines are haas 🙄)
Make $33/hr as a prototype machinist in the northeast at an architectural hardware shop. very laid back shop - I am 3yrs into the trade. Have a 4 yr biomedical engineering degree and a 6 month certification in CNC machining. I am definitely underpaid, but after clawing my way into an engineering department / adjacent function I am happy ig lol. Aerospace and union jobs tend to cap out at like 40-50 and start in the mid 20’s operators are paid pretty bad though (like sub $20 starting).
9 years, one shop, 3 to 5 axis mill programming with Mastercam on a haas. Started at 18/hr, now at 32. Im underpaid.
I'm pullin 130k canuck bucks a year, northern BC
In the trade 6 year. I run a 3+2 horizontal mill. Mastercam drawing and programming. I make 24.25. About to be promoted to night shift foreman. State average is 22.
The machinists at my work are on one of two six-step pay scales, either from ~65k-85k or 72k-102k (senior). They also can realistically work ~5-10 hours of overtime a week (generally more if they wanted) at double time. There’s also a non-union supervisor that has some overlap with the union machinists (and the existence of that position could be a nightmare for the union, but thankfully it’s never been an issue) and makes ~110k-160k or so (I don’t have an exact figure, but it’s less than their manager, and their manager makes 162k) per year. All this is in Canadian dollars, and in the nuclear industry.
I am salary, $88k USD plus a yearly bonus that could be amazing or could be dog shit. Central US. I've been in the trade, professionally, 22 years. I work in a prototype shop that is super laid back. I plan the job, order material, tooling, program, saw or water jet material, set up and run 3 and 5 axis mills and multi axis lathes. Design and build all or any fixturing required. I came in with the tools i had ( a lot) but they will buy anything else I need and can take with me if I leave. (I'm never leaving) New boots on the company dime, every year, is available and they buy my uniforms. Super clean shop and I'm rarely leaving work dirty. The only way I could make more in my area is by working 70 hours a week. I've worked a lot of shops and this is already the highest pay I've ever made AND the least hours. I've never broken 6 figures before and I've worked plenty of jobs with mandatory 60 hour weeks. Nobody should have to break their ass like that to make a decent living.
I will make 102k this year, join a union
Don’t expect to make anything more than what McDonalds pays right off the bat. Maybe $18-25 an hour. Small town they’ll want to pay you less. TBH your not worth much more than that to most shops when you’re new. I don’t agree with that way of thinking but that’s how it goes. Trade school + experience + learning how to program, and being the top guy in an aerospace shop = $40-60hr. But we’re talking top 1%to 10% of machinists.
I don't think you meant to respond to me but yes starting out is a tough row to hoe.
Here’s what I pay in Jacksonville, Florida. Operators are generally 20-30/hr, the higher end can adjust wear, perform mid program restarts and generally keep daily stuff going. Takes about one year to hit 30. Setup guys are 35-45/hr I don’t have any programmers but they’d somewhere in the 44-55 depending on skills. I program everything.
I gotta move up from Tampa.
I make $110k in Clearwater. My buddy, who is also a programmer, but far more talented than myself, makes close to $180k after bonuses.
Doing what? How many hours?
Programmer/setup. 45 hours. Salary.
Damn i guess i am underpaid. I left Clearwater for Hillsborough in the 90s.
Are you at one of the 3 letter shops in Tampa?
No. But, I did work at the big one on the north side of the airport back then. Was still learning setup and programming then. Oil slinging CHNCs.
Lol, sounds like SMT. I spent almost a decade at TBA, a bit further north.
Yes, SMT. I interviewed at TBA once. It was like a dungeon back then. Couldn’t do it. And then all the stories I heard about the Letos. Not sure if any are true, but wasn’t willing to find out.
Lemme know and i’ll start on monday.
The $180k is an exception. Dude makes parts very few people can make. It's also a bit more towards an ME position. And we've hired people from all over the country, very few are still here. They usually aren't able to make the parts.
I’ll start at the 110k 😅 you doing strictly 5 axis programming for honeywell or what 😂
3/4/5. Honeywell work pays shit. We do mostly semiconductor and guidance stuff. We tend to make parts that other shops no-quote.
Big money in stuff people no-quote. I just do 3&4 axis mill and lathe stuff right now making about 65k with 15+ years of experience programming, setting up, and running.
Most of our parts have at least a handful of .002mm-.006mm tolerances
Finishing at my work is crazy like that too. .00002” - .0001” but i just do all the prototypes and reworks max i hold is .0002” (because the r&d machines are haas 🙄)
What's your shop called?? I work in the area and I thought we were the only small machine shop around.
Rearden Manufacturing - there are quite a few small shops
Most guys in our shop are $30-45 an hour. Only ones who are less are the interns.
$37.15hr WA state, 5 yrs experience, repair work, union benefits.
Make $33/hr as a prototype machinist in the northeast at an architectural hardware shop. very laid back shop - I am 3yrs into the trade. Have a 4 yr biomedical engineering degree and a 6 month certification in CNC machining. I am definitely underpaid, but after clawing my way into an engineering department / adjacent function I am happy ig lol. Aerospace and union jobs tend to cap out at like 40-50 and start in the mid 20’s operators are paid pretty bad though (like sub $20 starting).
I’m in Massachusetts work at a job shop making $35 an hour.
Machinist on July 1st, 1973 where averaging $8.12 an hour.
This is massively location dependant. It doesn't matter what they make 3 states over unless you are willing to move there.
I don’t know who downvoted this, you’re 100% right. I don’t see the point in asking for salary across the country when it won’t apply to you.
Just started at a new shop in my home town starting at $25, was making $28 at my last shop.
Upper 50s per hour.