Machinist Apprenticeship in New Jersey

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.

NJ Median Salary
$62,010/yr
+10% vs. national
National Median
$56,150/yr
NJ Employment
3,530
Machinists employed
NJ Sponsors
8
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 New Jersey: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered machinist apprenticeship in New Jersey 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.

New Jersey pay vs. national

Median machinist wages in New Jersey are $62,010/year, +10% above the national median of $56,150. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

New Jersey has 8 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 — New Jersey-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

New Jersey Wage Spread

Annual wages for Machinists in New Jersey across all experience levels.

10th pct
$44,410
Median
$62,010
90th pct
$90,850
Middle 50% of workers earn $49,420$78,650

Current Machinist Apprenticeship Openings in New Jersey

No machinist apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for New Jersey. 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 New Jersey

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

Organization City County
Townsend Machine Chesterfield
Cutter Drill & Machine Inc. Lakewood
International Association Of Machinists (IAM) District 15 Lyndhurst Bergen County
Grinding Services, LLC. dba CAL Association Passaic Passaic County
Microcision, LLC Pennsauken
HP Machine Shop, Inc. Vineland
Shiloh Machine, LLC Vineland
Hammonton Mold Co., Inc. Williamstown
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Machinist openings

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

Machinist Apprenticeship in New Jersey

New Jersey has only 8 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

How much do Machinists make in New Jersey?
The BLS reports a median wage of $62,010/yr for Machinists in New Jersey (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How many years does it take to become a Machinist through 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?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Machinists combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
Where can I apply for a Machinist apprenticeship in New Jersey?
Our directory surfaces 8 Machinist-related registered sponsors in New Jersey. Start with your local trade union hall, joint apprenticeship committee (JAC), or state apprenticeship agency. You can also search apprenticeship.gov by occupation and ZIP.
How much do Machinist apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In New Jersey, a first-year Machinist apprentice might earn around $31,005/yr (roughly half the $62,010 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year 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 Precision Metal Working programs in New Jersey →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Machinist in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in New Jersey

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