Machinist
I-12I Other Industrial controls jobs · Skilled level · O*NET 51-4041.00
- Texas median
whole occupation, 2025 - $59,180
- work over
40 h a week - 44%
- load index
from O*NET data - 2.2/5
- Texas jobs
2024 to 2034 - +4.9%
Pay
This level's pay
No published pay record names this level: no public record found in sources S1-S7 that names this rung. The occupation-wide figure below is for all experience levels.
All pay records and context (1)
- State of Texas class salary ranges for this occupation (which class equals this rung is not published here): Machinist I $40,918 to $61,130 · Machinist II $45,521 to $71,055 Fiscal 2026-27 (Sept 1, 2025 - Aug 31, 2027) source
Whole occupation: all Machinists, Texas BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000051404113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 21,700 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000051404101).
BLS OEWS May 2025
- Series OEUS480000000000051404113 (median), Texas, May 2025, read 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Base pay (straight-time, excludes overtime).
- Based on an estimated 21,700 jobs in Texas (series OEUS480000000000051404101).
Outlook 2024 to 2034, all Machinists, not level-specific TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
TWC, BLS
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- Texas
- +4.9% jobs · about 2,140 openings a year (20,310 jobs in 2024)
- United States
- +0.0% jobs · about 29,500 openings a year (299,500 jobs in 2024)
Openings include people retiring or changing jobs, not only growth.
Hours O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2020, n = 30 respondents, O*NET OnLine
O*NET 31.0
- Duration of Typical Work Week (4.C.3.d.8), O*NET Work Context, data 08/2020, n = 30 respondents, O*NET OnLine
Schedule: regular 95% · irregular 5% · seasonal 0%
Physical load 2.2 of 5, our index from O*NET Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (2.5, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.95, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Method
- Engineer Tsai index (et_physical_v1): mean of a body index (2.5, 6 measures) and an exposure index (1.95, 7 measures), built from O*NET Work Context means, 1 to 5: Spend Time Standing; Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles; Spend Time Walking or Running; Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling; Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance; Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body; Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions; Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures; Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions; Exposed to High Places; Exposed to Hazardous Conditions; Exposed to Hazardous Equipment; Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection.
- O*NET OnLine
Body
- Standing4.51
- Bending or twisting3.29
- Walking or running2.81
- Kneeling or crawling1.65
- Keeping balance1.49
- Climbing ladders1.23
Exposure
- Hazardous equipment3.92
- Very hot or cold2.11
- Hazardous conditions1.71
- Cramped space1.7
- Protective gear1.45
- High places1.41
- Outdoors, all weather1.34
Getting in
- License
- No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).
- Degree
- 0% hold a bachelor's or higher; most common: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- Experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years of related experience is the most common answer (20% of workers).
O*NET
- O*NET Related Work Experience, Machinists, O*NET OnLine
- Preparation
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Why this level
- Skilled: O*NET Job Zone 3 (1-2 start, 3-4 skilled, 5 senior).
Moves to the side 6
- R Millwright O*NET lists Millwrights as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.79.
- R Industrial Machinery Mechanic O*NET lists Industrial Machinery Mechanics as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.90. License: depends on the work.
- R Electromechanical Assembler O*NET lists Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.89.
- R Electrical Assembler O*NET lists Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.79.
What the work is 6 core tasks
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. 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.
- Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
- Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
- Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
- Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
- Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
- Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.
Core tasks ranked by O*NET task Importance (IM, 1-5), top 6.
Top skills
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Quality Control Analysis
Sources (4)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, Texas, series OEUS480000000000051404113, read 2026-10-03
- Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections (via Projections Central) 2024-2034, Texas, read 2026-10-03
- Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034, United States, read 2026-10-03
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), 51-4041.00 Machinists, read 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Engineer Tsai has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 · O*NET license
Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Base pay; excludes overtime. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (United States) and Texas Workforce Commission long-term projections 2024-2034, read through Projections Central.
