Machinist

A machinist shapes metal and other materials into precise parts using machine tools like lathes, mills, and grinders. They read technical drawings, set up and operate machines, measure with precision instruments to tight tolerances, and produce components — often to thousandths of an inch — for everything from engines to medical devices.

The work combines mechanical skill, math, and meticulous attention to detail, since parts must fit and function exactly. Machinists work in manufacturing, machine shops, and toolrooms.

The job suits precise, patient, mechanically minded people who enjoy turning raw stock into exact finished parts and take pride in work measured in fractions of a millimeter.