A Career in CNC Machining
One of the great benefits of a career as a CNC Machinist is that much of the training can be done on the job. This means you become employed, begin to earn a steady pay check, and learn while you work. There is no costly tuition or loans you need to pay back. So, while your wage may appear to be a little lower in the beginning, you benefit from the low cost of entry into your chosen field. The more you grow and learn…the more you earn.
Another benefit is that CNC machine operators can come from all walks of life. Perhaps the seed was planted in a machine shop class in high school or maybe you heard about a local CNC boot camp program in your area. Some may have been involved with other “hands on” careers such as welding, metal fabrication, or automotive repair. Still, others may have entered the business having been displaced from a wide variety of other jobs and industries. There is no cookie cutter version of a machine operator.
This article has the word “dirty” in the title. People don’t always like to hear that. There are some who promote careers in manufacturing who think it will scare certain individuals away from work in a factory. Perhaps that is true. So while I’m the first to spotlight the fact that the shops of today no longer have to be the dark, dirty, and dingy shops of yesteryear; the reality remains that one still tends to get their hands dirty while machining parts. I’m here to tell you that it’s ok to get your hands dirty. To be a craftsman is to work with various materials that may not always be clean. That’s a fact of life that many professions from artist to zoologist all share. Remember, it’s those dirty hands that will put the money in your pocket!
