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 2025

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Northwest Minnesota	1,110	78	$25.73/hr	$19.76/hr	$22.26/hr	$24.57/hr	$29.26/hr	$31.47/hr

Leading Industries for Machinists

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and Mining	N/A	N/A
Construction	20	$28.54/hr
Manufacturing	13,930	$29.17/hr
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	590	$28.97/hr
Information	N/A	N/A
Professional and Business Services	290	$30.48/hr
Education and Health Services	N/A	N/A
Other Services	40	$35.56/hr
Public Administration	20	$37.39/hr

Other Regional Data for Machinists

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Fargo ND-MN MSA	90	$28.78/hr	N/A
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	110	$28.62/hr	N/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	120	$24.25/hr	N/A
Northeast Balance of State	120	$28.96/hr	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	160	$29.49/hr	N/A
Duluth MN-WI MSA	200	$29.24/hr	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	230	$29.04/hr	9.3%
Rochester MN MSA	410	$29.14/hr	N/A
St Cloud MN MSA	510	$29.57/hr	N/A
Southwest Balance of State	520	$24.57/hr	N/A
Southwest Minnesota	560	$28.43/hr	8.8%
Southeast Balance of State	650	$27.94/hr	N/A
Southeast Minnesota	930	$28.38/hr	4.2%
Northwest Balance of State	1,030	$24.56/hr	N/A
Northwest Minnesota	1,110	$24.57/hr	11.2%
Central Minnesota	2,020	$28.94/hr	12.8%
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	9,920	$29.55/hr	5.6%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	11,340	$29.55/hr	N/A
Minnesota	14,910	$29.26/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	5,570	$24.90/hr	-3.5%
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	140	$23.85/hr	N/A
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic	70	$25.23/hr	-18.7%
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	120	$21.91/hr	-11.1%
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	2,190	$23.28/hr	5.3%
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	1,330	$27.58/hr	1.9%
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic	40	$32.32/hr	-14.3%
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	90	$20.33/hr	-4.2%
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	1,490	$24.04/hr	-4.0%
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing	720	$23.91/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.