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  5. Machinists and Machining & Tooling Inspectors

Exploring Trades and Occupations

Machinists and Machining & Tooling Inspectors

On this page

  • Job description
  • Advancement and mobility
  • Hourly wage
  • Job prospects for 2022-2026
  • Sectors of activity
  • Training and requirements
  • Main skills and characteristics
  • Personality profiles (RIASEC)
  • Additional information

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 2019 to 2021.
Minimum
$17.50
Median
$25.00
Maximum
$32.00

Job prospects for 2022-2026

sr.comparaison-region.titre

Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.

Job prospects for 2022-2026

Job prospects

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Very good

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Non available

Total jobs for 2021

All of Québec

13,000

All of Québec

na

Gender distribution

All of Québec

Not available.
5% Female
95% Male

Not available.
  • 5% Female
  • 95% Male

Job types

All of Québec

Not available.
Full time
Part time

Not available.
  • Full time
  • Part time

Yearly wage on 2015

All of Québec

$49,000

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

Not available.
  1. Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 332
    31% of jobs
  2. Aerospace Products and Parts
    NAICS 3364
    15% of jobs
  3. Machinery Manufacturing
    NAICS 333
    15% of jobs
  4. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    NAICS 81
    5% of jobs
  5. Miscellaneous Manufacturing
    NAICS 339
    4% of jobs
  6. Others
    30% of jobs

All of Québec

Not available.
  1. Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
    NAICS 332
    31% of jobs
  2. Aerospace Products and Parts
    NAICS 3364
    15% of jobs
  3. Machinery Manufacturing
    NAICS 333
    15% of jobs
  4. Other Services (except Public Administration)
    NAICS 81
    5% of jobs
  5. Miscellaneous Manufacturing
    NAICS 339
    4% of jobs
  6. Others
    30% of jobs

Training and requirements

Formation

Most training programs are offered in French only.

Secondary

DVS in machining This hyperlink will open in a new window.
Code : 5871

Placement rate: 60.6%

25.8% of graduates pursue further studies

More on graduates’ employment situation
AVS in numerical Control Machine Tool Operation This hyperlink will open in a new window.
Code : 5724
More on graduates’ employment situation
STC in opérations sur machines-outils à commande numérique This hyperlink will open in a new window.
Code : 4214
DVS in usinage This hyperlink will open in a new window.
Code : 5371

Placement rate: 69%

21.6% of graduates pursue further studies

More on graduates’ employment situation
AVS in usinage sur machines-outils à commande numérique This hyperlink will open in a new window.
Code : 5224

Placement rate: 88.1%

9.8% of graduates pursue further studies

More on graduates’ employment situation

College

DCS in mechanical Engineering Technology This hyperlink will open in a new window.
Code : 241A0

Placement rate: 39.4%

59.5% of graduates pursue further studies

More on graduates’ employment situation

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.

Main skills and characteristics

Skills

  • Data collection
  • Programing
  • Information processing
  • Monitoring operations
  • Operations and control
  • Critical thought
  • Reading comprehension
  • Coordination
  • Active listening
  • Result evaluation
More Less skills

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
More Less abilities

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.
Additional information

Note about CNP

Occupational information is provided based on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016. The 5-digit code of the NOC 2021 is shown in parentheses for information purposes only for occupations that correspond to those of NOC 2016.

Official name of the NOC 7231 (72100)

Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors

Job titles

  • Conventional Machine Tool Machinists
  • Machinists on Numerically Controlled Machine Tools
  • Mouldmaking Machinists
  • Apprentice machinist
  • Journeyman/woman machinist
  • General machinist
  • Machining and tooling inspector
  • Apprentice automotive machinist
  • Machine shop charge hand
  • Machining inspector
  • Machined parts inspector
  • Propeller inspector - machining
  • Tool and gauge inspector
  • Tool and die 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
  • Motion picture equipment machinist
  • Ballistic laboratory machinist
  • Diesel engine machinist
  • Mould and core machinist
  • Precision machinist
  • Prototype machinist
  • Maintenance machinist
  • Experimental machinist
  • Computer numerical control (cnc) 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
  • Machine shop inspector
  • Auto parts machine shop inspector
  • Tooling inspector
  • Firearms machining inspector
More Less job titles

Skill type

Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

WAP

This occupation is targeted by Workplace Apprenticeship Programs

  • Computer controlled machinist This hyperlink will open in a new window.
  • Machinist Conventional Machine This hyperlink will open in a new window.
  • Patternmaker This hyperlink will open in a new window.
  • Tool and die maker This hyperlink will open in a new window.

Related occupations

  • Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
  • Machining tool operators
  • Tool and die makers

See also

  • Glossary (PDF 229 Kb)
  • Québec emploi This hyperlink will open in a new window.

See also

Non traditional

Hats Off to You!

Last update: March 27, 2023

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