Machine Shop Assistant

Types of Degrees Machine Shop Assistant Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many machine shop technology/assistant graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Basic Certificate	1,834
Undergraduate Certificate	740
Associate’s Degree	424

What Machine Shop Assistant Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, machine shop tech majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Machine Shop Tech Majors

Machine Shop Tech majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Skills for Machine Shop Tech Majors

A major in machine shop tech prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Abilities for Machine Shop Tech Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a machine shop tech student include the following:

• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

What Can You Do With a Machine Shop Assistant Major?

People with a machine shop tech degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic	1.1%	$40,070
Machinists	2.0%	$43,630

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Machine Shop Assistant?

This major attracts more men than women. About 96% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of machine shop tech majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	6
Black or African American	14
Hispanic or Latino	24
White	359
International Students	3
Other Races/Ethnicities	18

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Machine Shop Tech. About 0.7% of those with this major are international students.

How Much Do Machine Shop Assistant Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Machine Shop Tech majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $38,140 to $41,960 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Machine Shop Assistant

Some careers associated with machine shop tech require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to machine shop tech have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	7.6%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	51.6%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	27.4%
Some College Courses	6.7%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	4.6%
Bachelor’s Degree	2.1%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	0.9%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	0.0%

Online Machine Shop Assistant Programs

In 2018-2019, 162 schools offered a machine shop tech program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	117	1
Certificate (1-2 years)	120	1
Certificate (2-4 Years)	8	0
Associate’s Degree	68	0
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	117	1
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Machine Shop Assistant Worth It?

The median salary for a machine shop tech grad is $40,890 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 2% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $19,800 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Machine Shop Assistant

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to machine shop tech.

Major	Number of Grads
Welding Technology/Welder	45,129
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist	4,244
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist	1,938
Tool & Die Technology/Technician	658
Metal Fabricator	585
Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking	358
Other Precision Metal Working	272
Ironworking/Ironworker	171

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.