Machinist Apprenticeship in West Virginia

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.

WV Median Salary
$47,980/yr
-15% vs. national
National Median
$56,150/yr
WV Employment
1,530
Machinists employed
WV Sponsors
3
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 West Virginia: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered machinist apprenticeship in West Virginia 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.

West Virginia pay vs. national

Median machinist wages in West Virginia are $47,980/year, -15% below the national median of $56,150. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

West Virginia has 3 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 — West Virginia-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

West Virginia Wage Spread

Annual wages for Machinists in West Virginia across all experience levels.

10th pct
$37,840
Median
$47,980
90th pct
$65,540
Middle 50% of workers earn $39,890$57,290

Current Machinist Apprenticeship Openings in West Virginia

No machinist apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for West Virginia. 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 West Virginia

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

Organization City County
Null's Machine and Manufacturing, Inc. Huntington
Wooten Machine Company, Inc. Huntington
US Bearing and Power Transmission Corp. DBA Liberty Engineering and Machine, Inc. Scott Depot
Search apprenticeship.gov for current Machinist openings

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

Machinist Apprenticeship in West Virginia

The 3 Machinist-related registered sponsors in West Virginia mean apprenticeship programs exist but aren't abundant. Building relationships with local contractors and trade unions is often more effective than waiting for formal application windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Machinists make in West Virginia?
Machinists in West Virginia earn a median salary of $47,980/yr according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). This is below the national median of $56,150 for the trade.
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.
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 West Virginia?
Contact one of the 3 Machinist-adjacent registered sponsors in West Virginia (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 $23,990/yr in West Virginia). 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 West Virginia-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Machinist in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in West Virginia

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