Machinists and Machining & Tooling Inspectors
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Job description
Machinists operate machine tools to cut or grind various materials (metal, plastic, etc.) with precision. They manufacture or modify parts or products to precise dimensions.
Machining and tooling Inspectors check machined parts and tooling to ensure that quality standards are maintained.
These individuals work for:
- Machinery and equipment manufacturers
- Motor vehicle, auto parts, and aircraft plants
- Factories for shaped metal parts
- Workshops
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Odours
- Noise
- Electricity
- Falling objects
Main tasks
Machinists
- Determine the machining operations to be performed by referring to technical drawings, plans, tables, or sample parts.
- Calculate the dimensions and tolerances of the elements to be machined; measure and arrange them.
- Set up, operate, and maintain machine tools to perform precision machining.
- Adjust and assemble machined parts.
- Verify that product dimensions are within specifications.
- Set up and program machine tools for machine tool operators.
- Clean and maintain various machine tools.
- Complete required documentation as work progresses.
Machining & Tooling Inspectors
- Check the dimensions of the machined parts and tooling.
- Maintain, repair, and calibrate measuring instruments.
- Mention any deviations from specifications and tolerances.
- Draft inspection reports.
- Complete required documentation as work progresses.
Advancement and mobility
- Qualified machinists obtain a Red Seal endorsement upon successful completion of the Interprovincial Examination.
- Experience leads to supervisory positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $21.00
- Median
- $28.00
- Maximum
- $38.46
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 6.3% Female
- 93.7% Male
- 6.3% Female
- 93.7% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 33234% of jobs
-
NAICS 33313% of jobs
-
NAICS 336412% of jobs
-
NAICS 3395% of jobs
-
NAICS 814% of jobs
-
Others32% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 33234% of jobs
-
NAICS 33313% of jobs
-
NAICS 336412% of jobs
-
NAICS 3395% of jobs
-
NAICS 814% of jobs
-
Others32% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in machining
Placement rate: 60.6%
25.8% of graduates pursue further studies
DVS in usinage
Placement rate: 69%
21.6% of graduates pursue further studies
AVS in usinage sur machines-outils à commande numérique
Placement rate: 88.1%
9.8% of graduates pursue further studies
College
DCS in mechanical Engineering Technology
Placement rate: 43.3%
53.4% of graduates pursue further studies
Sometimes required
Machinists
- Knowledge of composite materials may be an asset for work in advanced sectors (e.g. aviation).
Machining & Tooling Inspectors
- Several years of experience as a machinist, tool and die maker, or machine tool operator may be required.
WAP
This occupation is targeted by Workplace Apprenticeship Programs
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Programing
- Information processing
- Monitoring operations
- Operations and control
- Critical thought
- Reading comprehension
- Coordination
- Active listening
- Result evaluation
Abilities
- Manual dexterity
- Hand-arm stability
- Digital dexterity
- Control accuracy
- Limb coordination
- Near vision
- Selective attention
- Information organization
- Awareness of issues
- Reaction time
- Visualization
- Written comprehension
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning
- Classification
- Speed control
- Speech recognition
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Perseverance
- Capacity to adapt
- Versatility
- Attention to detail
- Respect standards and regulations
- Enjoy challenges
- Patience
- Tolerance to routine work
- Knowledge of design
Interests
- Work with numbers
- Make, build, install
- Work manually
- Conduct tests and trials, control processes
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 72100
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
Job titles
- Conventional Machine Tool Machinists
- Machinists on Numerically Controlled Machine Tools
- Machine shop inspector
- Mouldmaking Machinists
- General machinist
- Machining and tooling inspector
- Apprentice machinist
- Journeyman/woman machinist
- Apprentice automotive machinist
- Machine shop charge hand
- Propeller inspector - machining
- Tool and gauge inspector
- Tool and die inspector
- Machining inspector
- Machined parts inspector
- Dimensional inspector - machine shop
- Machinist
- Bench machinist
- Computer-assisted machinist
- Differential gear testing machinist
- Aircraft machinist
- Electrical machinist
- Toolroom machinist
- Turbine blade machinist
- Aviation machinist
- Maintenance machinist
- Experimental machinist
- Motion picture equipment machinist
- Ballistic laboratory machinist
- Diesel engine machinist
- Mould and core machinist
- Precision machinist
- Prototype machinist
- Printing press machinist
- Gear inspector-machinist
- Gear tester-machinist
- Model maker machinist
- Firearms model maker machinist
- Master machinist
- Set-up machinist
- Automotive machinist
- Aircraft engine parts machinist
- Toolroom inspector
- Auto parts machine shop inspector
- Tooling inspector
- Firearms machining inspector
Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026