CNC machining is the best career you’ve never heard of. It pays well, has excellent long-term employment prospects, and offers interesting work. And you don’t need a college degree to get started.
According to collegecalc.org, the average in-state tuition for Illinois public colleges is almost $9,500 a year. For a private college, it’s almost $30,000 a year. Getting a college degree is a business decision so why spend that much money unless you are certain of the ROI? Especially if you’re not sure what you want to do yet.
We believe that a career in the skilled trades is something that more job seekers should seriously consider. Contrary to what many people think, manufacturing is not on the decline in the United States. In fact, as the demand for sophisticated medical devices grows, companies like SPM will need more skilled laborers, not less. This is not your grandfather’s factory job. If you picture manufacturing work as dirty, dangerous, boring, or insecure, your mind is holding on to an image of work from decades past. Today’s jobs are highly skilled and well paid because most of the unskilled work has been automated or outsourced.
CNC Machining Career
- You want to combine manufacturing and technology. The idea of doing highly skilled work on complex machines captures your interest.
- You want to work with your hands. The other side of that coin is that you don’t want to work behind a desk. You enjoy working with different materials and the satisfaction of creating something tangible.
- You like to use your critical thinking skills to solve complex problems.
- You are detail-oriented and exact, with an appreciation for things that are intricately designed.
- You like closure and enjoy seeing a project through from beginning to end.
- You would describe yourself as a process person. You value and are energized by continuous improvement.
- You love turning ideas into reality and like to be learning something new all the time.
- You have a lot of mental and physical stamina and you want to use it.
- You view challenges as opportunities to grow and expect to be able to learn and advance in your career.
- You want to be respected and rewarded for your accomplishments and skills.
If this sounds like you, read on. The demand for skilled machinists is high and the number of people who can and want to fill the positions is low. Furthermore, according to the BLS, Illinois is an employment hotspot for highly skilled industrial workers. In 2018, over 31,000 machinists were employed in Illinois, with 24,000 in the greater Chicago area.
The following comment was left in a discussion forum for CNC machinists, “Fact of it is though, I have always been able to support my wife and 2 kids and buy a house with just my income. I am about to get a programming job, hard work pays off. I wouldn’t work in any other trade.” We agree. If you are in the middle of making career decisions, please visit our employment page to view our job openings and give us a call to talk about your future in skilled manufacturing.
