How much do machinist make?

[JimDawson]

If you want to have your own shop, then you need to start working towards that now. You have a real advantage in that you already work in a machine shop. First express interest in doing machine work to your boss, I'm guessing that he has no idea that you have an interest. With your boss's permission, start by cleaning and oiling the machines, that will allow you to familiarize yourself with all of the controls. Then convince your boss to give you some small jobs on the manual machines, and then get one of the old timers to help you out. In a larger shop there is usually someone that will take someone new to the trade under their wing.

Also, read through this thread http://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/considering-a-career-move-to-machinist-apprentice.43516/

Best of luck to you.

 

[awaqa909]

Something to think about.... There will be/is a pilot shortage going on. Not sure if it interests you or not. It is a real bear of a career to get into, but the payoff can be huge.

Ah, that was another one of my dreams, to become a helicopter pilot. I find helicopters very cool but don't really know anything about them. I like to play simulators with them and I've got a radio control helicopter. I ruled it out kinda as my vision isn't very good and I read some stuff about military pilot vision requirements and thought I was unqualified. I heard planes arn't as fun, but pay more.

 

[Charles Spencer]

They were dressed in cargo shorts, dirty t-shirts from hiking and a couple duffel bags.

I saw a guy at a Red Sox game once dressed in high top sneakers, cutoff jeans, and faded Red Sox t-shirt and hat. He was on the field receiving a check for a large sum they were donating to Mass. General Hospital, where he was chief of neurosurgery.

On a related note, during the housing boom of about ten years ago I saw a lot of people I knew buying things that I couldn't afford. I wondered if I was really that much worse off than them. Well, it turned out a couple of years later that I really wasn't.

 

[JPMacG]

In this area of the country (Philadelphia area), HVAC technicians, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and builders do well. They have plenty of work and their pay is decent. Many own their own businesses. Two of my neighbors work in HVAC and are successful. On the other hand, I know several machinists who are unemployed and seem to have given up hope of ever finding work in machining. I hear that Texas has a shortage of workers in construction. That might be an opportunity for you to get into a construction related field.

 

[gheumann]

I started my business as a hobby/second career. The fact that I had a 1st one gave the luxury of not needing the new business to feed my family in the 1st couple years, which makes it much less stressful. My biz has grown every year since then through hard work, good marketing, .... running your own business means you have to be at least good at every job - engineering, machining, marketing, sales, operations, payables, receivables, inventory..... BUT - the margins are great. I'm now selling over $250K a year out of my garage with one part time employee. I get to use 2 lathes and 2 mills among other things. And the margins are very good.

 

[willthedancer]

Plumbers make more money.

The captains of industry have never forgiven us for the boom years back in the early 20th century, and have done everything in their power to keep us down.

If you love machine work, do it because it makes you happy. It's all about what you feel called to do. Bear in mind that it will be at least 5 years as a journeyman before you get any real respect.

If you do walk this road, keep each job for a year or more. Try to get job shop work as much as you can, as it is usually small runs or one-offs. That will keep the boredom to a minimum.

My best jobs were in gear shops and ship repair. Lots of variety.

Manufacturers are often dead ends unless you can get into the tool crib. Imagine being stuck on a screw machine making 10,000 rivets a day, year after year. Employers will try to hang you on a machine that you make them money on. No variety, boredom, and no future.

Sent from my Moto G Play using Tapatalk

 

[astjp2]

One thing to realize is that job shops run the same parts over and over. Put the material in, push the go button. Sit on your butt and wait for the part to be done. move it o the next fixture, install more material, pull out the completed part from the fixture....just like an assembly line. I work for an extremely huge corporation, we are the largest exporter in America, and I work on machines, fixing them is way more desirable of a career. You have to know something about computers for the CNC, you have to know about the mechanics of machines, lube systems, wiring, belts, safety requirements, etc. Fixing can be a dirtier job but it pays $5 per hour more than what our machinists make. Some of the repetition for doing preventative maintenance gets old but the troubleshooting can be both frustrating and fun.

I also have an A&P license with inspection authorization and have worked on everything form a Super Cub to 747-400, working nights, out in the cold, and on weekends was the norm for that job, now I just do it for a hobby, taking care of a few airplanes for some extra cash and a change of pace on an occasional weekend. Liability is high if there is an accident or crash but its the nature of the job.

Pick your career wisely. I looked at going to machinist school 27 years ago, instead, I went in the Air Force for 5 years, then joined the Army for 8 more, working on F-15's then Huey's, Blackhawks, and lastly Apaches. Loved the Huey the most, got to fly with that job. After getting out, I worked on modifying nuclear missile silos, then did building maintenance for the Missile Defense program, finally ended up working on machines. My current company pays for education so I am finishing my Doctorate of Management in Homeland Security. This is a little about my career changes, I loved the mission and teamwork of the military, it gave me my start and paid for my Bachelors degree, masters was paid by my employer at the time. I do regret not taking a few risks and getting my Commercial Pilots license, now I just have a private. I am considering a career change in the next couple of years, its just what I do. I have a good retirement now and stable work but doing the same thing too long bores me and I like new challenges, others are happy doing the same thing for their entire career. It's up to you to decide. Good luck. Tim

 

[weaselfire]

I was thinking that I might have to go to school to learn some stuff for machining, but what I keep thinking about is if machinist don't make good money?

What is "good money" to you? Around here, machinists make diddly. But that because both jobs are taken. In an aerospace production plant, they make more than working as a grease monkey who runs a brake lathe and mills heads.

But, while machining is decent money for many, it isn't billionaire, or even millionaire category. Software security programming will make you triple what you can make as a machinist, plastic surgery in Beverly Hills about 20 times as much. Walmart cashier or Home Depot loader will make you a third as much as a machinist.

And, just like a bartender can make just above minimum to more than $250 grand a year, it depends on who you are, what your skills are and where you work.

Jeff

 

[Rockytime]

Most of the machinists around here, a lot anyway, work at Boeing. With longvity, senior people on the line can make $60 to $100k annually. Don't know what they start at... maybe $16 to $20. But entry level salary goes up with time and machine experience, and your interest in accepting responsibility for more complex work.

Ahaha. I figure my rate is down around $0.75 /hr sometimes for some of the one off parts I make in my one man shop.

Glenn

Ha, ha! In the 50"s at 18 years old I worked in the Renton plant. I was a class D jig builder. Didn't even know what that was but they paid me $3 per hour. I felt like the richet guy in town. After a year my father insisted I come home and get into college.

 

[The Liberal Arts Garage]

Yes - make the jump. Basically, the premise to never stop learning, never stop challenging yourself. Don't worry too much about the money. Try to work towards enjoying what you do a little more every day and learn something every day.

If you can get a machining ticket - great. Do you have good people to learn from? If you do, learn as much as you can. Don't be afraid to change jobs. Going to school, changing jobs etc. is easier when you are younger. Then get yourself another ticket (welder, mechanical technologist, engineer - whatever turns your crank or whatever opportunities come along.

I started out as a HD mechanic, after a few years went back to school for Mechanical tech, worked a few years, then full on engineering - sure lots of people make more $$ that I have, but I'm making enough and enjoying what I do. Still learning something new most days.

I can only Testify that that the children we raised were given permission to do what
They wanted, loved, even, and never take a job they hated unless it was a short
step to the job they would be happy in. This has left me poor but pleased,in that
we have all made our world a little happier, wiser, and more Beautiful..BLJHB.