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They're getting harder and harder to fill because they don't pay anything anymore. A friend of mine quit his apprenticeship as a machinist because he can make
by blhack 14y ago
They're getting harder and harder to fill because they don't pay anything anymore.
A friend of mine quit his apprenticeship as a machinist because he can make more money doing phone tech support for a cable company.
- orangethirty 14y agoMachinists make a good living. How long was his apprenticeship?
- greghinch 14y agoMore money than an apprentice machinist or more money than a professional? I would guess the former, which is a pity.
- blhack 14y agoHis claim was more than a professional. Apparently going rate for a CNC mill operator is something like $14/hr. Maybe my friend is full of it (and believe me, I gave him a TON of flak for quitting).
- orangethirty 14y agoThat's about right for a new operator. Though they do make more with time, due to how difficult is to find good ones.
- greghinch 14y agoInteresting. My only experience is dealing with fabrication for motorcycle parts. Custom CNC fabricated parts are quite expensive, and hourly rates match that for repair work ($80-120 depending on locality) Generally these are experienced pro's though, so guessing you gotta start at the bottom and work up. But that's where I say pity, thought I don't know your friend's circumstances, and certainly if he needs the money now then it's the right choice. But so many just choose the quick, easy money now, and as a result the skilled trades in general are a dying art.
- wildgift 14y agohe or she should stick it out. a machinist is a good job, especially if you can do the trad and the cnc.