Machinist Apprenticeship in North Dakota

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.

ND Median Salary
$58,110/yr
+3% vs. national
National Median
$56,150/yr
ND Employment
500
Machinists employed
ND Sponsors
0
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 North Dakota: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered machinist apprenticeship in North Dakota 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.

North Dakota pay vs. national

Median machinist wages in North Dakota are $58,110/year, +3% above the national median of $56,150. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

North Dakota has 0 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 — North Dakota-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

North Dakota Wage Spread

Annual wages for Machinists in North Dakota across all experience levels.

10th pct
$41,930
Median
$58,110
90th pct
$78,020
Middle 50% of workers earn $46,820$68,300

Current Machinist Apprenticeship Openings in North Dakota

No machinist apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for North Dakota. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't included in the national directory. 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 North Dakota

Our directory doesn't surface Machinist-specific registered sponsors in North Dakota. This usually reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors use generic company names rather than trade-specific branding — it doesn't mean programs don't exist. Direct search on apprenticeship.gov is the most reliable way to find current openings.

Search apprenticeship.gov for current Machinist openings

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

Machinist Apprenticeship in North Dakota

Our directory doesn't list Machinist-specific sponsors in North Dakota. This typically reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors operate under generic company names rather than trade-specific branding. Nearby states often accept out-of-state apprentices — and apprenticeship.gov can identify current openings by occupation code and ZIP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Machinists earn in North Dakota?
The median annual wage for Machinists in North Dakota is $58,110 as of May 2024. Wages range from $41,930 at the 10th percentile to $78,020 at the 90th percentile.
How long is a Machinist apprenticeship?
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.
Is an apprenticeship better than trade school for Machinists?
An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn over 4 years with no tuition cost. Trade school is faster (6–24 months) but costs money upfront. Both can lead to the same journeyman credential.
How do I find a Machinist apprenticeship in North Dakota?
We don't have Machinist-identified sponsors listed in North Dakota, but that doesn't mean programs don't exist — small regional contractors often aren't identifiable by name. Start with apprenticeship.gov's job finder (filter by occupation and ZIP), then contact nearby-state IUEC/IBEW/UA/SMART locals if nothing shows up locally.
How much do Machinist apprentices earn?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $29,055/yr in North Dakota). 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 North Dakota-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Machinist in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in North Dakota

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