Nevada is home to many manufacturing companies that produce innovative products that require high precision and accuracy. These companies achieve this through CNC machines, which have revolutionized the manufacturing world and continue to do so.
To ensure their smooth operation, a class of professionals is integral to these machines’ functioning, operation, setup, programming, and analytics.
These are none other than CNC machinists. In the guide below, we analyze in-depth all the major requirements expected of a candidate who wants to become a successful CNC machinist in Nevada. We also explore some of the best programs for individuals to consider and the annual average salary they may anticipate when they begin their careers.
How to Become a CNC Machinist in Nevada
The steps below showcase how to become a CNC machinist in Nevada.
Considering Training Options
Naturally, future CNC machinists must choose their training arrangement and acquire relevant skills on the job. The following are ways to achieve this objective.
Apprenticeship Education
Apprenticeship education is perfect for a robust understanding of CNC machining through a learning arrangement that combines classroom instructions with practical education. Becoming a successful CNC machinist is possible by attending only an apprenticeship program.
Most programs organized in this way can be completed in 4 years.
Academic Education
Even though it is possible to become a successful CNC machinist by attending only an apprenticeship program, candidates can also do so by attending an academic program. Many community colleges and technical schools in the state offer top-class CNC machining programs that have produced successful graduates in the past and continue to do so.
Depending on the degree desired, an academic CNC machining program can be completed in a few months to a couple of years.
Securing Suitable Job Placement
Candidates who have successfully received training as prospective CNC machinists can deploy their skills and knowledge in an array of manufacturing companies. These include aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, original equipment manufacturing, defense, engineering, maintenance, and power generation, among many others.
Consider trades with similar paths:
Licensure & Certification Requirements
Like other states across the country, Nevada allows individuals to work as CNC machinists without pursuing a state license. The state also allows candidates to work without certification, but this consideration is technically important for potential employers.
Subsequently, some companies may choose to work only with certified CNC machinists, which is one reason why pursuing certification is very common despite its optional nature. Certified professionals will also have access to continuing education materials to acquire more skills and the opportunity to network with professionals in their focus areas.
Some prominent organizations offering well-rated credentials for CNC machinists in Nevada include the National Institute for Metalworking Skills, Fabricators and Manufacturers Association International, and the Association for Manufacturing Technology.
Top CNC Machinist Schools in Nevada
The following are some of the best CNC machinist training programs in Nevada.
College of Southern Nevada
Las Vegas, NV Campus Only
The College of Southern Nevada's School of Advanced and Applied Technologies offers an advanced manufacturing and machining program.
Tuition
$123 - $223 per CreditContact
(702) 651-4198
registrar@csn.edu
Vegas PBS Workforce Education
Online, NV Online Only
Vegas PBS Workforce Education is the place for candidates with busy schedules who want to complete their CNC machinist education online.
Tuition
$2,845 per ProgramContact
(855) 520-6806
Truckee Meadows Community College
Reno, NV Campus Only
Lastly, aspiring CNC machinists anywhere in Nevada can attend Truckee Meadows Community College for the right education to secure entry-level employment.
Tuition
$130 - $223 per CreditContact
(775) 673-7111
Explore CNC machinist schools in Nevada by city:
Salary & Career Outlook
The annual average salary to anticipate as a prospective CNC machinist in Nevada can range between $59,466 – $92,678. The reasons for the disparity can be numerous and are sometimes hard to pinpoint.
However, the most popular factors are experience, location, specific company of employment, and professional credentials.
Those who are just starting may not be on the favorable side of these factors, which is why they may end up with an annual average salary of $59,466, which is for the bottom 10%. However, well-established in the field who have optimized the responsible factors may have an annual average salary of $92,678.
Also notable – and, in fact, the most common – are those in the median category, taking home an annual average salary of $74,237. As for location, there are a few prominent places that offer relatively high annual average salaries for CNC machines in Nevada, and they include Huntington Valley, with an annual average salary of $103,429; Sparks, with an annual average salary of $83,693; Reno, with an annual average salary of $79,857; and Las Vegas with an annual average salary of $75,695.