Machinist Apprenticeship in Washington

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.

WA Median Salary
$64,510/yr
+15% vs. national
National Median
$56,150/yr
WA Employment
6,980
Machinists employed
WA 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 Washington: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered machinist apprenticeship in Washington 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.

Washington pay vs. national

Median machinist wages in Washington are $64,510/year, +15% above the national median of $56,150. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

Washington 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 — Washington-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

Washington Wage Spread

Annual wages for Machinists in Washington across all experience levels.

10th pct
$47,450
Median
$64,510
90th pct
$107,240
Middle 50% of workers earn $56,630$80,710

Current Machinist Apprenticeship Openings in Washington

No machinist apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for Washington. 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 Washington

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

Organization City County
Community Transit/I.A.M. District 160 Apprenticeship Committee Everett
IAM/Boeing Joint Apprenticeship Committee Seattle
Machinists Institute Seattle King County
Machinists Institute Career Accelerator (MICA) Seattle
Northwest Machinists Apprenticeship Committee Seattle
Honeywell Machinist Apprenticeship Plant Program Spokane
C-Tran/Machinist Local #1432 Apprenticeship Committee Vancouver
Lifeport Machinist Apprenticeship Woodland
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Machinist openings

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

Machinist Apprenticeship in Washington

Washington 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 Washington?
Machinists in Washington earn a median salary of $64,510/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is above the national median of $56,150 for the trade.
How many years does it take to become a Machinist through apprenticeship?
The standard Machinist apprenticeship is 4 years of combined on-the-job training and classroom education. Some programs offer accelerated paths for candidates with prior experience.
What's the difference between a Machinist apprenticeship and trade school?
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.
Where can I apply for a Machinist apprenticeship in Washington?
Our directory surfaces 8 Machinist-related registered sponsors in Washington. 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?
Yes. Apprentices earn wages from day one, typically starting at 40–60% of the journeyman rate (roughly $32,255/yr in Washington). 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 Precision Metal Working programs in Washington →
Or see all 332 programs nationwide.

Machinist in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in Washington

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