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Analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists' hand tools.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72,210 | 1.7 % | $24.81 | $51,610 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $15.28 | $19.62 | $24.55 | $29.87 | $35.69 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $31,790 | $40,810 | $51,060 | $62,130 | $74,230 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 16,730 | 9.22 | $23.00 | $47,840 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 11,940 | 2.06 | $26.93 | $56,010 |
| Forging and Stamping | 5,520 | 5.71 | $24.84 | $51,660 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 3,850 | 0.79 | $31.07 | $64,630 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 3,790 | 1.06 | $23.84 | $49,580 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 16,730 | 9.22 | $23.00 | $47,840 |
| Forging and Stamping | 5,520 | 5.71 | $24.84 | $51,660 |
| Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing | 1,060 | 2.88 | $22.17 | $46,110 |
| Hardware Manufacturing | 530 | 2.22 | $23.02 | $47,870 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 11,940 | 2.06 | $26.93 | $56,010 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 50 | 0.01 | $35.24 | $73,290 |
| Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 2,170 | 1.05 | $32.35 | $67,280 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 150 | 0.01 | $31.71 | $65,950 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 3,850 | 0.79 | $31.07 | $64,630 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 410 | 0.02 | $30.34 | $63,110 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 12,810 | 3.04 | 5.91 | $24.94 | $51,860 |
| Ohio | 7,860 | 1.47 | 2.86 | $24.61 | $51,190 |
| Illinois | 5,260 | 0.89 | 1.73 | $26.11 | $54,310 |
| Indiana | 4,280 | 1.43 | 2.78 | $24.54 | $51,050 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,260 | 0.74 | 1.44 | $23.25 | $48,350 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 12,810 | 3.04 | 5.91 | $24.94 | $51,860 |
| Ohio | 7,860 | 1.47 | 2.86 | $24.61 | $51,190 |
| Indiana | 4,280 | 1.43 | 2.78 | $24.54 | $51,050 |
| Connecticut | 2,030 | 1.22 | 2.37 | $28.75 | $59,810 |
| Wisconsin | 3,410 | 1.21 | 2.36 | $24.16 | $50,250 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1,260 | 0.41 | 0.80 | $32.16 | $66,900 |
| Vermont | 130 | 0.42 | 0.82 | $29.65 | $61,660 |
| Connecticut | 2,030 | 1.22 | 2.37 | $28.75 | $59,810 |
| Oregon | 280 | 0.16 | 0.30 | $28.20 | $58,660 |
| Utah | 200 | 0.14 | 0.28 | $27.70 | $57,620 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division | 5,040 | 4.18 | 8.12 | $24.71 | $51,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 3,000 | 0.82 | 1.60 | $26.96 | $56,070 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 2,410 | 4.36 | 8.48 | $23.89 | $49,690 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 2,260 | 2.20 | 4.28 | $25.70 | $53,460 |
| Detroit-Dearborn-Livonia, MI Metropolitan Division | 1,720 | 2.40 | 4.66 | $28.80 | $59,900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,290 | 0.31 | 0.59 | $25.18 | $52,380 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 1,220 | 0.91 | 1.77 | $27.68 | $57,580 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 1,200 | 1.43 | 2.77 | $25.45 | $52,940 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,130 | 0.59 | 1.15 | $27.03 | $56,230 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | 860 | 1.56 | 3.03 | $27.20 | $56,570 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, IN | 270 | 5.51 | 10.71 | $19.96 | $41,520 |
| Waterbury, CT | 360 | 5.27 | 10.24 | $30.50 | $63,440 |
| Niles-Benton Harbor, MI | 290 | 4.78 | 9.29 | $24.16 | $50,250 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI | 2,410 | 4.36 | 8.48 | $23.89 | $49,690 |
| Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI Metropolitan Division | 5,040 | 4.18 | 8.12 | $24.71 | $51,400 |
| Jackson, MI | 240 | 4.04 | 7.85 | $23.70 | $49,310 |
| Rockford, IL | 570 | 3.84 | 7.47 | $24.57 | $51,110 |
| Sheboygan, WI | 200 | 3.37 | 6.56 | $24.18 | $50,290 |
| Muskegon, MI | 200 | 3.18 | 6.19 | $22.53 | $46,870 |
| Morristown, TN | 120 | 2.79 | 5.43 | $20.78 | $43,210 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division | 90 | 0.30 | 0.59 | $33.27 | $69,200 |
| Wilmington, NC | 50 | 0.43 | 0.83 | $33.09 | $68,820 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 110 | 0.10 | 0.20 | $32.41 | $67,410 |
| Nassau County-Suffolk County, NY Metropolitan Division | 220 | 0.17 | 0.34 | $30.98 | $64,440 |
| Waterbury, CT | 360 | 5.27 | 10.24 | $30.50 | $63,440 |
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 220 | 0.25 | 0.48 | $29.95 | $62,300 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 220 | 0.81 | 1.58 | $29.83 | $62,050 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | 50 | 0.50 | 0.97 | $29.30 | $60,940 |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT | 120 | 0.49 | 0.96 | $29.08 | $60,490 |
| Manchester, NH | 100 | 0.90 | 1.74 | $28.93 | $60,180 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 1,100 | 4.34 | 8.44 | $22.95 | $47,740 |
| North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 870 | 2.64 | 5.12 | $22.51 | $46,830 |
| Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 770 | 2.77 | 5.38 | $20.20 | $42,020 |
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 540 | 3.51 | 6.82 | $21.81 | $45,360 |
| Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 540 | 2.50 | 4.87 | $21.83 | $45,400 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 1,100 | 4.34 | 8.44 | $22.95 | $47,740 |
| Western Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 540 | 3.51 | 6.82 | $21.81 | $45,360 |
| Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 540 | 3.37 | 6.55 | $25.94 | $53,960 |
| Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 490 | 3.05 | 5.93 | $20.18 | $41,980 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 320 | 2.99 | 5.82 | $16.86 | $35,080 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 1.74 | 3.38 | $31.94 | $66,430 |
| Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.23 | 0.44 | $30.77 | $64,000 |
| Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | 120 | 1.13 | 2.20 | $30.00 | $62,400 |
| West Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.47 | 0.91 | $27.43 | $57,060 |
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 1.13 | 2.19 | $27.17 | $56,520 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017