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Machinist vs Welder: pay, jobs and what each takes
Machinists and welders side by side: what each earns by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and by the jobs open today, how many jobs there are, and the education and credentials each takes.
Machinist vs Welder, side by side
| Machinist | Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Open jobs on this board today | 157 | 88 |
| Median posted hourly pay (open jobs) | $111,275 | $128,900 |
| Median hourly pay (BLS) | - | - |
| Median yearly pay (BLS) | - | - |
| Projected employment change (BLS) | - | - |
| Openings a year (BLS) | - | - |
| Typical education to enter (BLS) | - | - |
| Credentials | Machining credentials (NIMS) | Welder certification (AWS, D17.1 for flight hardware) |
Machinist vs Welder: common questions
Are there more machinist or welder jobs?
On this board today: 157 open machinist jobs and 88 welder jobs, read from each employer's own job board.
What is the difference between a machinist and a welder?
Rocket and spacecraft makers hire machinists to cut the engine parts, structures and fittings that fly, on CNC mills, lathes and multi-axis machines. Rocket and spacecraft makers hire welders to join the tanks, engine parts and propellant lines that fly, and welding engineers to qualify how it is done.
How do you become a machinist or a welder?
A trade program or apprenticeship and time on CNC mills and lathes. Trade school or apprenticeship, then passing the employer's weld test on its alloys. Each occupation's page lists its credentials and who grants them: Machinists, Welders.
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- Aerospace Technician vs Machinist
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Sources and method
Pay and outlook are BLS's figures for each occupation's main SOC code; open jobs and their posted median are this board's, counted as each occupation's own page counts them.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections
- SpaceJobs.Now job board: open jobs read every night from each employer's own careers site
Cite this page
SpaceJobs.Now. (2026). Machinist vs Welder: Pay, Jobs and Requirements Compared. Data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://spacejobs.now/compare-careers/machinist-vs-welder