by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Machine Shop Technology/Assistant involves the study of Machine Shop Technology/assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Fabricate And Modify Metal Parts In Support Of Other Manufacturing, Repair Or Design Activities, Or As An Independent Business. Read on to learn the important information every machine shop technology/assistant student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering machine shop technology/assistant programs.
In the U.S., machine shop technology/assistant is a widely-pursued major, with 1,634 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Machine Shop Technology/Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 97 schools to determine the best overall colleges for machine shop technology/assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of machine shop technology/assistant programs later in this article.
Coursework for Machine Shop Technology/Assistant build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations machine shop technology/assistant graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a machine shop technology/assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a machine shop technology/assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several machine shop technology/assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 314 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 126 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,071 |
People currently working in careers related to machine shop technology/assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 59.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 17.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 11.3% |
| Some college courses | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in machine shop technology/assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying machine shop technology/assistant can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to machine shop technology/assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to machine shop technology/assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Machinists | 826,859 | 1.7% |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | 700,944 | 4.1% |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 690,098 | -1.2% |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 577,031 | 3.0% |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 398,888 | 13.7% |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 380,873 | -0.2% |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | 273,429 | -4.3% |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators | 248,570 | -2.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of machine shop technology/assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,800 |
| 4 years | $39,416 |
| 5 years | $44,203 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for machine shop technology/assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers machine shop technology/assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | $67,669 |
| Machinists | $58,269 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $55,961 |
| Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners | $55,632 |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | $53,306 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $52,281 |
| Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,258 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | $47,270 |
With 97 different machine shop technology/assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased machine shop technology/assistant school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in machine shop technology/assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Welding Technology/Welder | 57,768 |
| Machine Tool Technology/Machinist | 3,539 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist | 2,174 |
| Metal Fabricator | 552 |
| Tool and Die Technology/Technician | 509 |
| Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking | 386 |
| Precision Metal Working, Other | 340 |
| Ironworking/Ironworker | 161 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
