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Engine Machinist

Types of Degrees Engine Machinist Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Engine Machinist have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	70
Associate’s Degree	7

What Engine Machinist Majors Need to Know

Studies in Engine Machinist emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Engine Machinist graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

This major prepares you for careers needing Engine Machinist emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Production and Processing — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 2.9 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set emphasized by a Engine Machinist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Monitoring — Importance 3 / 5; level 3 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Engine Machinist careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Manual Dexterity — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Visualization — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Engine Machinist graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Handling and Moving Objects	4.3 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.3 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities	3.9 / 7
Getting Information	3.8 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.6 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	3.6 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.5 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	3.4 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	3.4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Engine Machinist professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Spreadsheet software	Spreadsheet software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
Computer aided design and drafting CADD software	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Dassault Systemes SolidWorks	Computer aided design CAD software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Engine Machinist graduates include:

• Product Assembler
• Jet Engine Assembler
• Diesel Engine Erector
• Truck Engine Assembler
• Cell Technician
• Engine Assembler
• Engine Builder
• Race Engine Builder
• Manufacturing Assembler
• Assembler
• Metal Precision Machine Assembler
• Transmission Rebuilder
• Aircraft Powerplant Assembler
• Blower and Compressor Assembler
• Air Conditioning Coil Assembler (AC Coil Assembler)

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Engine Machinist graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	64.0%
Postsecondary certificate	12.9%
Less than a high school diploma	11.2%
Master’s degree	7.2%
Some college courses	4.7%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Engine Machinist?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 97.4% of Engine Machinist degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	2	2.6%
Men	75	97.4%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Engine Machinist graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	48	62.3%
Asian	1	1.3%
Hispanic or Latino	18	23.4%
Black or African American	8	10.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	1.3%
Two or More Races	1	1.3%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Engine Machinist Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Engine Machinist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$37,744
4 years	$43,612
5 years	$49,558

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $49,558 — roughly 31% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Engine Machinist Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Engine Machinist graduates earn a median of $43,612 four years after completion — roughly 15% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	74,567
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician	41,728
Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician	9,859
Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance Technology/Technician	7,637
Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician	5,464
Aircraft Powerplant Technology/Technician	3,372
Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician	2,100
Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician	896
Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/Technician	799
Avionics Maintenance Technology/Technician	719
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technology/Technician, General	630
High Performance and Custom Engine Technician/Mechanic	470

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.