Career Paths From Machinists

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move88.7% skill match
Machinists and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 10% lower.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$52,800
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move92.1% skill match
Machinists and Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 20% lower.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$47,180
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorCareer Change90.5% skill match
Machinists and Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 27% higher.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$74,340
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move90.1% skill match
Machinists and Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 16% lower.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$49,080
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation EquipmentCareer Change88.9% skill match
Machinists and Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 44% higher.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$84,890
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Maintenance Workers, MachineryCareer Change89% skill match
Machinists and Maintenance Workers, Machinery share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Maintenance Workers, Machinery is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 4% higher.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$60,850
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsCareer Change88.2% skill match
Machinists and Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 5% higher.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$61,770
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
BoilermakersCareer Change89.4% skill match
Machinists and Boilermakers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Boilermakers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 30% higher.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$76,410
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentCareer Change88.4% skill match
Machinists and Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 26% higher.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$74,090
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Sheet Metal WorkersCareer Change89.2% skill match
Machinists and Sheet Metal Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Sheet Metal Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 5% higher.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$61,800
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
RiggersCareer Change89.1% skill match
Machinists and Riggers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Riggers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 7% higher.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$62,640
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move91.5% skill match
Machinists and Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 19% lower.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$47,720
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move91.6% skill match
Machinists and Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 22% lower.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$45,760
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersCareer Change91.8% skill match
Machinists and Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 19% lower.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$47,810
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersCareer Change89.8% skill match
Machinists and Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 33% lower.
Current median salary
$58,750
Target median salary
$39,630
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.