Machine Tool Technology

Types of Degrees Machine Tool Technology Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many machine tool technology/machinist graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Undergraduate Certificate	1,348
Basic Certificate	1,170
Associate Degree	767

What Machine Tool Technology Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to machine tool tech and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Machine Tool Tech Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in machine tool tech should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• 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 Tool Tech Majors

machine tool tech majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• 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.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• 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.

Abilities for Machine Tool Tech Majors

Machine Tool Tech majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:

• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 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.
• 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 Tool Technology Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with machine tool tech:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Machinists	2.0%	$43,630

Who Is Getting an Associate’s Degree in Machine Tool Technology?

This major attracts more men than women. About 94% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	59
Black or African American	21
Hispanic or Latino	62
White	566
International Students	6
Other Races/Ethnicities	53

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Machine Tool Tech. About 0.8% of those with this major are international students.

How Much Do Machine Tool Technology Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Machine Tool Tech majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $37,510 to $41,490 (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 Tool Technology

Some careers associated with machine tool 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 tool tech have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	8.5%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	62.1%
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)	19.0%
Some College Courses	6.6%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	2.4%
Bachelor’s Degree	0.3%
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.	1.1%
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.	0.2%
Doctoral Degree	0.0%

Online Machine Tool Technology Programs

In 2020-2021, 291 schools offered a machine tool 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)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	211	1
Certificate (2-4 Years)	24	0
Associate’s Degree	149	2
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
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 Tool Technology Worth It?

The median salary for a machine tool tech grad is $40,770 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 $17,400 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Machine Tool Technology

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

Major	Number of Grads
Welding Technology/Welder	42,490
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist	2,689
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant	1,921
Tool & Die Technology/Technician	584
Metal Fabricator	430
Ironworking/Ironworker	316
Other Precision Metal Working	314
Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking	279

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.