Working with CNC machinery is a career path you might not have considered before. This type of equipment has been a staple of the manufacturing industry for decades now, and yet even with the rise of automated systems, human specialists are still needed to oversee the operation of CNC gear.
So for those curious about what a career as a CNC machinist has to offer, here are just a few of the benefits it brings to the table to tempt you to take the plunge.
Earning opportunities & job outlook
Arguably the most important part of any job is the money you can make doing it, and getting work as a CNC machinist can be financially rewarding compared to other, lower skilled roles in manufacturing.
Machinists themselves make around $46,000 annually on average, according to BLS stats. Meanwhile tool and die makers are more highly prized, with salaries sitting at just under $55,000 a year.
This goes hand in hand with the good news that the long term outlook for this profession is positive. The number of CNC machinists employed in the US is set to grow by seven percent over the course of the decade, and there are already over 400,000 people working in this role, hence the likelihood of good, stable employment being on the cards.
Perks
While there may be many CNC operators out there, because demand for people in this field is high, employers are incentivized to attract talented individuals with beefy benefits packages that sweeten the deal.
At a very basic level, you can expect to get health insurance and life insurance, on top of access to company pension plans and other financial perks.
Likewise your employer may well be happy to cover the costs of any training you need to get up to speed with the equipment in question, whether you are working with used Haas machines or new systems that are at the cutting edge from a technological standpoint.
Career progression
Speaking of training, CNC machinists can take advantage of opportunities offered by their employer in this regard in order to further their career and take on more senior roles and positions within an organization.
This in turn will lead to a larger salary, to go along with the increased responsibilities and expectations that will fall upon you.
If you continue to prove yourself, you could keep progressing up the ladder within a single organization, or change jobs and find a role higher up in a different business altogether.
Flexibility
With the demand for CNC machinists comes the opportunity to be flexible about not just which jobs you take, but where you take them.
If you want to work in a particular part of the country, then you will probably find some employment as a CNC machinist locally. Then if you need to move later on, it is a very portable skill from a geographic standpoint.
Versatility
When you have acquired and developed your skills in the use of CNC equipment, these don’t just have to be deployed indefinitely in the service of a larger employer. You could instead choose to open up your own small scale machine shop, building a business on the back of your own efforts and eventually employing other people to take care of the machining work in your place.
This is not a route that everyone will want to take, but for machinists who have an entrepreneurial spirit, it could be appealing.
Satisfaction
So many careers that exist in the modern age are unsatisfying because they don’t hold much meaning for the people who pursue them, and are merely a means to an end.
Operating CNC equipment does not suffer from this fate, since your work will produce tangible objects, and these will in turn go towards creating part of a larger whole.
Whether you are producing new components or repairing old parts, the satisfaction that comes from completing a task with heavy, computer-controlled manufacturing equipment will never get old.
Variety
A lot of the satisfaction of working with CNC gear is based on the sheer variety of the equipment which falls under this banner.
From laser cutters and lathes to grinders, mills, 3D printers and beyond, there is an ocean of different devices to explore and master. And if you have an eye for inventiveness and a bit of engineering know-how, you could even get to grips with CNC machines to pursue your own creative projects.
Final thoughts
If any or all of these advantages of a career as a CNC machinist have struck a chord with you, now is a great time to get involved.
There are some downsides of course, such as the physicality of the role and the greater safety risks workers face, but they don’t detract from the overall appeal.
