Career comparison
CNC Machinist vs. Industrial Maintenance Technician
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Industrial maintenance technicians earn more at the median ($64,520 vs. $58,750), while CNC machinists usually get to work faster (6–24 months of training). CNC machinists set up and run computer-controlled machines that cut precision metal parts. Industrial maintenance technicians keep factory machinery running with mechanical, electrical and PLC troubleshooting.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| CNC Machinist | Industrial Maintenance Technician | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $58,750 ($28.24/hr) | $64,520 ($31.02/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $39,200 – $80,010 | $46,120 – $95,170 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.0% (slower than average) | +17.8% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 26,100 | 44,400 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 6–24 months | 1–4 years |
| Key credential | NIMS credentials | CMRT (SMRP) |
| Work setting | Machinists work in machine shops and factories. | Technicians work in manufacturing plants, warehouses, food processing facilities and utilities. |
What each job does
CNC Machinist
- Read blueprints, GD&T and setup sheets
- Set up CNC mills and lathes, including fixtures, tools and offsets
- Load programs and run machines
- Measure parts with precision instruments and adjust offsets
- Perform first-article and in-process inspections
Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Perform preventive and predictive maintenance on equipment
- Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic problems
- Repair or replace bearings, belts, motors, pumps and gearboxes
- Read schematics, prints and PLC ladder logic
- Align shafts and adjust machinery
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, indoor work, problem-solving, and shift work. Both are part of the mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose CNC machinist if…
- I enjoy precise, careful work
- I like math and measurements
- I’m comfortable around machines
Choose industrial maintenance technician if…
- I like figuring out how machines work and why they break
- I’m comfortable with both mechanical and electrical work
- I can stay calm when production is down
Still torn? Take the CNC Machinist fit quiz and the Industrial Maintenance Technician fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, CNC machinist or industrial maintenance technician?
Industrial Maintenance Technicians earn more at the median: $64,520 versus $58,750 for CNC machinists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
CNC Machinists typically train faster (6–24 months) than industrial maintenance technicians (1–4 years).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects industrial maintenance technicians to grow +17.8% from 2025–35, compared with +1.0% for CNC machinists.