MANUFACTURING

The Machinist

You’re careful and detail-oriented. You’ve got the steady hands and clear vision needed to do precision work. You don’t mind reading a technical document. You’ve got a head for numbers. And you have the energy and endurance to spend long hours on your feet.

You just might be the next great machinist!

Job description

Machinists operate machines in factories that create parts and components used in manufacturing processes. Sometimes machinists make a single unique (but necessary) part; other times they oversee a process that produces identical parts by the thousands.

Machinists use tools to cut. They use another set of tools to grind. Then they use yet another set of tools to polish.

Being a machinist is all about mastering your tools: knowing when and how to use each machine, how to modify your machines with attachments and accessories for different uses, and how to operate the machines safely.

Your day-to-day tasks as a machinist

  • Set up and operate special tools like lathes, shapers, grinders and computer-controlled machines
  • Look at blueprints or virtual 3D models to figure out a needed item’s exact measurements and specifications
  • Plan production schedules to construct complex parts within a set of deadlines
  • Cut, fabricate and modify pieces, following the specs
  • Examine and measure pieces to certify they’re correctly “machined”
  • Test pieces to ensure they’re strong enough for the job
  • Smooth and polish rough edges on a piece
  • Maintain and repair production equipment
  • Create draft sketches, diagrams and blueprints to show what a piece should look like

Quick facts

ANNUAL SALARY IN GEORGIA

$43,100 (BLS, May 2016)

NATIONAL OUTLOOK

6% moremachinist jobs by 2024

JOB TRAINING

In a machinist apprenticeship, you’ll get paid while you train — usually working 40 hours per week and learning technical stuff in the evening. The apprenticeships usually last at least a year.

You might also be able to get hired to learn on the job while attending a community or technical college for the technical training part. Georgia offers some of these programs at our community and technical colleges.

Many training programs for machinists offer certification that meets standardized requirements for the trade. This credential can help you boost your rep and become a more competitive candidate for the job.

Find machinist training in Georgia

Piedmont Technical College

Lanier Technical College

West Georgia Technical College

North Georgia Technical College

Apprentice Programs

Associated Builders & Contractors

Associated General Contractors, Inc.

United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

National Association of Home Builders

APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

If you’re a high school senior and want to train as a machinist at one of Georgia’s technical colleges, why not apply for a Trade Five Scholarship? Go to [web address] to find out more.