Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

51-4041 Machinists

Occupational Description:
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments. 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.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2024

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	11,720	609	$28.96/hr	$20.61/hr	$23.69/hr	$29.59/hr	$32.71/hr	$37.02/hr

Leading Industries for Machinists

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and Mining	N/A	N/A
Construction	30	$27.54/hr
Manufacturing	10,660	$29.49/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	510	$33.50/hr
Information	N/A	N/A
Professional and Business Services	430	$28.97/hr
Education and Health Services	10	$40.93/hr
Other Services	30	$30.19/hr
Public Administration	20	$35.39/hr

Other Regional Data for Machinists

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	50	$23.22/hr	N/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA	100	$28.68/hr	N/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	110	$29.59/hr	N/A
Northeast Balance of State	140	$28.68/hr	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	160	$28.68/hr	N/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA	220	$30.07/hr	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	290	$29.87/hr	9.3%
Rochester MN MSA	420	$31.21/hr	N/A
St Cloud MN MSA	460	$29.76/hr	N/A
Southwest Minnesota	570	$26.48/hr	8.8%
Southwest Balance of State	580	$24.53/hr	N/A
Southeast Balance of State	810	$25.33/hr	N/A
Northwest Balance of State	1,040	$24.12/hr	N/A
Southeast Minnesota	1,070	$28.42/hr	4.2%
Northwest Minnesota	1,120	$24.66/hr	11.2%
Central Minnesota	1,940	$29.51/hr	12.8%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	6,520	$30.35/hr	5.6%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	7,850	$30.31/hr	N/A
Minnesota	11,720	$29.59/hr	7.6%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	5,130	$23.60/hr	-3.5%
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	N/A	$24.97/hr	N/A
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic	110	$24.24/hr	-18.7%
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	110	$20.50/hr	-11.1%
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	2,870	$21.40/hr	5.3%
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	1,480	$26.61/hr	1.9%
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic	10	$26.99/hr	-14.3%
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	90	$18.46/hr	-4.2%
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	1,780	$20.41/hr	-4.0%
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing	640	$21.47/hr	5.1%

Task for Machinists

Separate scrap waste and related materials for reuse, recycling, or disposal.
Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
Dispose of scrap or waste material in accordance with company policies and environmental regulations.
Operate equipment to verify operational efficiency.
Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.