How Much Does a CNC Machinist Make in Utah?

Before we go into the salary and pay for a CNC Machinist in Utah, let’s talk about what the job generally entails. A CNC Machinist is trained to work with highly specialized CNC machinery in order to customize tools and specific parts from a variety of materials. They often work with metal, plastic, and other materials. They also help to ensure the machinery is set up properly, running efficiently and, most importantly, the parts that are being manufactured are accurate and precise. Therefore, it is vital that a CNC Machinist have both the knowledge and training necessary to complete this trade job.

Getting A Job

If you want to get a job as a CNC Machinist, you might find that most people start out as an apprentice. Apprenticeships in CNC machining are not typically structured around actual CNC licenseship, but rather training opportunities on-the-job with a company that is willing to train its personnel. Those trainees or apprentices are often coming out of a CNC machining trade school program and are then trained into the job of a CNC Machinist and they gain vocational qualifications along the way. Individuals have to have strong mechanical and math skills and some of the skills required for the job include the following:

1. Numerical control
2. CNC machining
3. Instructing
4. Milling
5. Grinding
6. Reading blueprints
7. Micrometer
8. Lathe operation
9. Machine operation

The reason that these skills are so coveted is because there are a lot of different CNC machines out there. Some of these include woodworking machines, plasma cutters, engravers, grinders, turning centers and more. Many of the wood and metal working machines that were once manually operated are replaced by CNC machines.

CNC Machinist Job Description

A reliable CNC Machinist being asked to join an industrial team is going to face a range of high level responsibilities. These include the following:

1. Setting up and programming tools and equipment to repair, modify and create parts.
2. Monitoring machinery and regular quality inspections and checks
3. Maintaining accuracy in production 
4. Maintain attention to detail and be extremely focused in work.
5. Check CNC machinery is working before it’s set up
6. Set up the machinery to conduct the quality run as needed
7. Conduct programming as needed
8. Monitor the cycle run and keep checking the specifications are met
9. Perform CNC machinery maintenance
10. Maintain health and safety standards at all times

Requirements of Being A CNC Machinist

There are a range of requirements for a CNC Machinist and these include:

• At minimum, a high school diploma
• 2 or more years as a CNC Machinist or a similar position
• Needs to be able to read and follow technical drawings
• Must pass both a background check and drug screening

When these requirements are met, you can be successful as a CNC Machinist in Utah.

How Much Does A CNC Machinist Make?

As of February 2022, a CNC Machinist makes an average of $43,227 annually per annum. That works out as an hourly rate of $20.78. There is a spectrum of salaries for a CNC Machinist, and that’s between $24,500 to $57,500 depending on experience and education. The majority of those in a CNC Machinist role sits in the $36,500-$55,500. This means that there are opportunities for advancement and better pay as time goes on, and that will depend on skill level, location and years of experience. Understanding the range of salaries with the benefits of the job will help you to expect what to earn as a CNC Machinist. To estimate the most accurate salary, you can do research as to where the best pay is based on location. 

The Top 10 Best Cities For CNC Machinists

Location matters when choosing a CNC Machinist position, and we’ve got a list of the top 48 cities that have the highest level of pay compared to the cost of living for CNC Machinists. Below is a list of the top ten locations:

1. Atlanta, GA
2. Pittsburgh, PA
3. Cincinnati, OH
4. Louisville, KY
5. Nashville, TN
6. Columbus, OH
7. New York, NY
8. Houston, TX
9. Indianapolis, IN
10. Richmond, VA

Once you understand where the best paying CNC Machinist roles are, you are going to be in a better position for success in your career. Choosing to do the role of a CNC Machinist is going to be a big deal, especially when you choose a place to work that is looking to pay what you are worth for your work. As an example, the market for CNC Machinists is big in Salt Lake City, UT, which has a thriving manufacturing sector, and there are many companies there always looking to hire and train from the ground up. This is a role that’s needed and necessary in manufacturing, and the ten cities listed above (or one of the cities listed in this article) have larger than average hourly wages compared to the cost of living of that location because the position is in demand. 

What About Related Jobs?

Along with the role of a CNC Machinist, there are jobs relating to this position that pay highly in the area, too. There are at least five jobs per year that pay more than a CNC Machinist role. These include:

• CNC Consultant
• CNC Service Engineer
• CNC Software
• CNC Process Engineer
• Senior CNC Programmer

All of these roles pay between $32,286 and $56,918 which is more than the average pay for a CNC Machinist. 

Reasons To Become A CNC Machinist

There are plenty of reasons to become a CNC Machinist and we’ve got a few of them for you below:

1. You want to work with computers. If you love the challenge of troubleshooting computers, you will love the role of a CNC Machinist. It’s the combination of the digital and the physical and if you are drawn in by computer technology, you’ll love this role. You have to understand what’s going on at every step and it can help to push you to your best.
2. You are meticulous with details. In CNC machining, you have to note that even the tiniest of details counts. You have to be detail-oriented and take great pride in perfection to be a successful CNC Machinist. When steps aren’t followed correctly, things go wrong.
3. You love to create. If you are creative and you love to make new things, then you will love being able to use metal as your clay to be molded.