Machinist Apprenticeship in Texas

At $56,040/yr, Texas Machinists earn a meaningful premium over the $48,060 national average — 17% more without requiring a bachelor's degree.

Wages for Machinists in Texas ($56,040/yr) track close to the $56,150 national median — within 0% either way. The state sits squarely in the middle of the pack.

BLS projects 0.0% employment change for Machinists through 2034 — a declining field in aggregate. However, 29,500 annual replacement openings still create opportunities for apprenticeship completers.

With 20,770 Machinists on payroll, Texas accounts for 6.1% of national employment in the trade. That concentration supports a robust apprenticeship ecosystem with many sponsoring employers.

Becoming a Machinist through apprenticeship takes roughly 4 years — 8,000 hours split between on-the-job training and classroom study covering precision measurement, CNC operations, and metallurgy. Wages start at a fraction of journeyman rate and increase on a set schedule.

Texas's 1,964 registered apprenticeship sponsors create one of the more competitive markets for program placement. Candidates should apply to multiple programs, as the most popular ones fill quickly.

Apprentices entering the Machinist trade in Texas start near the $37,430 floor but have a clear path to $81,200 — a $43,770 arc that reflects how the trade values experience and skill accumulation.