Machinist Apprenticeship in Idaho

Wages, programs & career outlook

Machinists set up and operate the lathes, mills, and CNC machines that turn raw metal into precision parts — aerospace components, medical devices, automotive internals. The job mixes shop-floor operation with blueprint reading, CAM programming, and quality inspection.

ID Median Salary
$53,760/yr
-4% vs. national
National Median
$56,150/yr
ID Employment
1,150
Machinists employed
ID Sponsors
2
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
0.0%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
29,500
Nationally, per yr

Machinist Apprenticeship in Idaho: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered machinist apprenticeship in Idaho combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

Idaho pay vs. national

Median machinist wages in Idaho are $53,760/year, -4% below the national median of $56,150. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Idaho has 2 registered apprenticeship sponsors for machinist listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% job growth for machinists nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 29,500 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — Idaho-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Idaho Wage Spread

Annual wages for Machinists in Idaho across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,200
Median
$53,760
90th pct
$81,760
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,090$68,510

Current Machinist Apprenticeship Openings in Idaho

No machinist apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Idaho. The sponsors listed below accept applications on a rolling basis — contact them directly. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Machinist Apprenticeship Sponsors in Idaho

2 machinist-related registered sponsors identified in the DOL ApprenticeshipUSA directory for Idaho. Directory lists sponsor names only — contact each organization directly to confirm current machinist apprenticeship openings.

Organization City County
Christensen Machine Inc. Heyburn
ABSOLUTE MACHINING SOLUTIONS Lapwai Nez Perce County
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Machinist openings

Filter by occupation code 51-4041 and state ID for the most relevant results.

Machinist Apprenticeship in Idaho

Idaho has only 2 Machinist-adjacent registered sponsors in our directory — program slots may be competitive and early applications give the best shot at placement. Direct outreach to union halls in the state's largest cities often matters more than formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Machinists earn in Idaho?
Machinists in Idaho earn a median salary of $53,760/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $56,150 for the trade.
What is the length of a Machinist apprenticeship program?
A typical Machinist apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
Should I do a Machinist apprenticeship or go to trade school?
The key difference: apprenticeships pay you during training while trade schools charge tuition. Many employers prefer apprenticeship-trained Machinists, but trade school can give you a head start on the classroom requirements.
Where can I apply for a Machinist apprenticeship in Idaho?
Contact one of the 2 Machinist-adjacent registered sponsors in Idaho (listed below), or search apprenticeship.gov for current openings. Local union halls, community colleges, and the state apprenticeship agency are good first stops.
Do Machinist apprentices get paid during training?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $26,880/yr in Idaho). Wages increase at regular intervals — usually every 6 months — as you progress through the program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Machinists also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 332 Precision Metal Working programs nationwide →
Too few Idaho-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Machinist in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Idaho

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.