Machinist Resume Example
A machinist resume that names the machines you run, the materials and tolerances you hold and the quality results behind your parts.
How to write a machinist resume that lands interviews
A great machinist resume isn't a list of responsibilities — it's a tight stack of quantified outcomes, written in language an ATS scores and a human reader believes. Below: the 8 bullets a strong candidate uses, the 4 they avoid, the keywords the ATS expects, the pay figures to anchor your negotiation against, and the FAQs we hear most often.
Sample bullets — good vs weak
Each “good” bullet leads with the outcome, includes a measurable result, and shows scope. The “weak” versions describe activities without showing impact. Use these as templates; rewrite them in your own voice with your real numbers.
✅ Bullets that get the call
- Set up and ran 3-axis CNC mills to produce aluminum and steel brackets to the drawing, holding +/- 0.002 inch on critical features.
- Read blueprints with GD&T callouts to plan setups, fixtures and tool paths for short-run production jobs.
- Cut first-article parts and inspected them with micrometers, calipers and a height gauge before releasing each run.
- Reduced setup time on a recurring part family from about 90 minutes to about 55 by standardizing fixtures and tool offsets.
- Edited G-code at the control to adjust feeds and speeds, extending tool life on a stainless steel job.
- Ran manual lathes and mills for one-off repair parts, turning shafts and boring bushings to size on short notice.
- Kept scrap below 1.5 percent over 6 months by catching tool wear during in-process checks.
- Programmed simple parts in CAM software and posted them to the machine after a proof run.
❌ Bullets to rewrite
- Operated machines in a machine shop.
- Made parts.
- Precise and detail-minded.
- Used measuring tools.
ATS keywords to weave into your bullets
The four-component ATS rubric weights keyword density inside experience bullets more heavily than the keywords-only skills section. These are the 14+ keywords most often scored on a machinist resume — fold them into your bullets where they're honestly applicable.
Machinist salary
Annual pay across the United States, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Half of these workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile figures. Your offer will depend on the state, the employer and the shift.
| Annual pay | Amount |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39k |
| 25th percentile | $48k |
| Median | $59k |
| 75th percentile | $68k |
| 90th percentile | $80k |
Want a deeper salary breakdown by city + role + experience? See the full Machinist salary guide →
Common mistakes (and how to fix them)
- Listing 'machining' without machines or materialsFix: State the machine types, controls and materials you cut.
- No tolerancesFix: Include the tolerances you hold on typical parts.
- No quality evidenceFix: Add scrap rate, first-pass yield or inspection results.
- Ignoring programming abilityFix: Mention G-code, CAM and offset editing if you do it.
ATS tips specific to machinist resumes
- Write 'GD&T' as 'geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)' once.
- Use control and software names the posting uses only when you have used them.
- List metals and plastics you have machined as keywords.
- Keep certifications and training in their own labeled section.
Frequently asked questions
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Start freeAbout this guideThe ApplyVita Career Team — The ApplyVita Career Team builds the resume-scoring and job-matching tools at the core of ApplyVita. Our guidance is grounded in the same four-component ATS rubric our product scores resumes on — content and impact, keyword match, formatting, and skills — and in current recruiter and hiring-manager practice. Every guide is checked against that rubric before it is published, and updated as hiring norms change.