CNC Machinist Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Machinists are the hardest production job to fill in Southern Arizona, and Pima Community College built a three-story Advanced Manufacturing Building downtown largely because of it. DMG Mori, the German machine tool maker, sent 36 of its technicians to Tucson for a 120-hour apprenticeship block at PCC. Caterpillar, which relocated its Surface Mining and Technology Division here, sends its own engineers to the college to learn machine welding and prototyping. Meanwhile Sargent Aerospace and Defense turns bearings and hydraulic components to aerospace tolerances, and a network of small job shops feeds Raytheon's missile programs. A Tucson machinist who can program, set up, and inspect their own work does not stay unemployed for long.
Current CNC Machinist Openings in Tucson, AZ
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Top Tucson Employers Hiring CNC Machinists
Machining work in Tucson splits between large defense and aerospace employers and the independent job shops that supply them. Both hire, but the shops often let you touch more machines sooner.
- Sargent Aerospace and Defense - CNC mill, lathe, and grinding work on bearings, actuators, and hydraulics for aircraft and submarine programs.
- Raytheon RTX - machining and fabrication supporting missile hardware, tooling, and test fixtures. ITAR rules restrict these roles to US persons.
- Caterpillar - machining and prototype fabrication tied to the Surface Mining and Technology Division and the Green Valley proving ground.
- Universal Avionics - precision parts and enclosures for flight deck avionics systems.
- Ascent Aviation Services - machining and structural component work at the Marana Pinal Airpark and Tucson operations.
- Local job shops - contract machine shops across the Port of Tucson and south side industrial corridor supplying defense, mining, and optics customers.
CNC Machinist Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level machinist or CNC operator moving into setup: roughly 20 to 24 dollars per hour, about 42,000 to 50,000 dollars a year
- Experienced machinist running setups independently: roughly 25 to 33 dollars per hour, about 52,000 to 69,000 dollars a year
- Senior machinist, programmer, or CNC lead: roughly 34 to 45 dollars per hour, about 71,000 to 94,000 dollars a year
These figures are estimates and vary by employer, shift, and experience. Aerospace and defense tolerances pay more than general production machining. Machinists who write their own G-code or run CAM software such as Mastercam sit at the top of the local range. Shift differentials apply on second and third shift, and larger employers add medical coverage, a 401k match, tuition reimbursement, and paid time off.
How to Become a CNC Machinist in Tucson
Arizona does not license machinists, and there is no state exam. What employers want is proof you can hold a tolerance. The local path is Pima Community College. The CNC Operator certificate covers machine setup, blueprint reading, and part inspection on mills and lathes and can be finished in roughly two semesters. It stacks into the Machining Inspection and Quality Assurance certificate and then the Machine Tool Technology associate degree, which adds metallurgy, drafting, manufacturing processes, and computer-aided machining. All of it runs out of the Advanced Manufacturing Building at the Downtown Campus, alongside welding, robotics, and CAD labs. Pima County JTED runs a machining track for high school students that transitions into PCC.
Industry credentials matter here more than in most production roles. NIMS machining certifications are recognized nationally and Tucson shops know them. Add OSHA 10 and, if you want aerospace work, expect ITAR rules limiting Raytheon and Sargent jobs to US persons. Many Tucson machinists start as CNC operators and earn the degree at night while the employer pays for it.
What the Job Involves
You read the print, plan the operation sequence, pick tooling, load the program, and dial in workholding. Then you cut a first article, inspect it against every dimension on the drawing, adjust offsets, and hand it to quality before the run begins. During production you monitor tool wear, listen for chatter, deburr, and check parts on a schedule. In an aerospace shop the tolerances are in ten-thousandths and the inspection paperwork travels with the part. You will use calipers, micrometers, height gauges, bore gauges, and sometimes a coordinate measuring machine. Expect a full shift on your feet, coolant on everything, and overtime when a defense or mining program needs parts.
Skills Employers Look For
- Blueprint reading including geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
- Machine setup, workholding, tooling selection, and offset control
- G-code editing at the control and, at the higher end, CAM programming
- Precision measurement with micrometers, bore gauges, and indicators
- Materials knowledge: aluminum, stainless, titanium, and how each behaves
- Troubleshooting surface finish, tool wear, and dimensional drift
- Documentation discipline in ITAR and AS9100 environments
Career Path and Advancement
The Tucson progression runs CNC operator, setup machinist, then machinist, then either CNC programmer or shop lead. Programmers and lead machinists at aerospace suppliers earn the highest hourly rates in local production. From there people move into manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, or shop supervision, and a PCC associate degree plus a few years on the floor is the standard resume for that jump. Sargent and Raytheon both promote from within, and machinists who add a clearance become portable across every defense employer in Southern Arizona. Some Tucson machinists go the other direction and open their own job shop supplying the same primes they used to work for.
Related Careers in Tucson
Machining sits next to several other precision trades that Tucson employers post regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license or certification to be a CNC machinist in Arizona?
No. Arizona issues no machinist license and no state exam exists. Employers rely on demonstrated skill, a trade test, and credentials such as NIMS certifications or a Pima Community College Machine Tool Technology degree. Aerospace and defense shops add ITAR restrictions limiting many positions to US persons, and some Raytheon roles require a clearance the company sponsors.
How long does it take to become a machinist in Tucson?
Pima Community College's CNC Operator certificate takes roughly two semesters and qualifies you for entry level setup work. The Machine Tool Technology associate degree takes about two years. Most Tucson machinists reach independent setup capability after two to four years on the floor, and programming competence usually takes five or more.
Which Tucson employers pay machinists the most?
Aerospace and defense suppliers generally lead, with Sargent Aerospace and Defense, Raytheon, and Caterpillar sitting above general job shop rates. Within any of them, machinists who program and set up their own work earn the top estimates. Small contract shops sometimes pay competitively for a proven multi-axis machinist because they cannot afford scrap.
Is CNC machining still in demand in Tucson?
Yes. Local demand is why Pima Community College invested in a 100,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Building and why DMG Mori sent technicians here for apprenticeship training. Raytheon's Tucson missile programs, Caterpillar's mining division, and the optics cluster all consume precision machined parts, and the supplier base has consistently reported difficulty filling machinist openings.
Do Tucson machinists work night shifts?
Many do. Larger employers run second and third shifts to keep expensive machines cutting, and those shifts usually pay a differential of roughly one to three dollars per hour. Small job shops more often run a single day shift with overtime. Weekend and ten- or twelve-hour schedules appear when a defense delivery or mining rebuild is on a deadline.
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