by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Machine Tool Technology/Machinist explores Machine Tool Technology/machinist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Plan, Manufacture, Assemble, Test, And Repair Parts, Mechanisms, Machines, And Structures In Which Materials Are Cast, Formed, Shaped, Molded, Heat Treated, Cut, Twisted, Pressed, Fused, Stamped Or Worked. Examples: [General Machinist], [Machinist]. Read on to learn the key facts every machine tool technology/machinist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering machine tool technology/machinist programs.
Nationwide, machine tool technology/machinist is a popular field of study, with 3,539 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Machine Tool Technology/Machinist Schools ranking analyzes these 248 schools to determine the best overall colleges for machine tool technology/machinist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of machine tool technology/machinist programs later in this article.
Coursework for Machine Tool Technology/Machinist develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations machine tool technology/machinist graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a machine tool technology/machinist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a machine tool technology/machinist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several machine tool technology/machinist 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 | 1,476 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 714 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,254 |
People currently working in careers related to machine tool technology/machinist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 59.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 13.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 10.6% |
| Some college courses | 10.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| First professional degree | 1.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in machine tool technology/machinist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying machine tool technology/machinist prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to machine tool technology/machinist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to machine tool technology/machinist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 884,005 | 6.6% |
| Machinists | 826,859 | 1.7% |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 762,661 | 7.6% |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | 690,098 | -1.2% |
| Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic | 577,031 | 3.0% |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 573,460 | -4.6% |
| Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 491,789 | -4.1% |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | 487,910 | 14.6% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of machine tool technology/machinist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 tool technology/machinist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers machine tool technology/machinist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | $67,669 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $67,252 |
| Machinists | $58,269 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $55,961 |
| 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 |
| Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,503 |
With 248 different machine tool technology/machinist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased machine tool technology/machinist school rankings to help you.
Those considering machine tool technology/machinist, 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 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist | 2,174 |
| Machine Shop Technology/Assistant | 1,634 |
| 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.
