How to hire machinists

Job description template

Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.

[Job title] at [Company name]
[City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range]

About the role
[Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.]

What you will do
• 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.
• Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
• Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
• Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
• Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
• Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
• Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.

What you bring
• [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any]
• [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent]
• Strong critical thinking, monitoring, active listening and speaking skills
• [Anything else you would really turn someone away for]

Pay and benefits
[Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $28.24 an hour ($58,750 a year).
[Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.]

How to apply
[Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]

Copy the template Check your finished job post

Interview questions for machinists

Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.

1. Tell me about a time you had to calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
2. Tell me about a time you had to machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
3. Tell me about a time you had to maintain machine tools in proper operational condition. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
4. Tell me about a time you had to measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
5. Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
6. How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
7. Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
8. Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?

Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.

What machinists do

• 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.
• Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
• Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
• Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
• Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
• Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
• Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.

Skills that matter most

Critical ThinkingMonitoringActive ListeningSpeaking

Education, experience and outlook for machinists

• Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
• Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
• Training on the job: Long-term on-the-job training (BLS)
• Job outlook: +1% over ten years, little or no change · about 26,100 openings a year (BLS)

What to pay machinists

Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:

See machinists pay in every state

Related hiring guides

• Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
• Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Tool and Die Makers
• Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers
• Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
• Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
• Millwrights
• Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Job duties and skills: 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. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.