Is Becoming a Machinists Worth It in Utah? ROI Analysis
A data-driven look at the costs, earnings, and return on investment of a machinists career in Utah — compared to a 4-year college degree.
Machinists in Utah
ROI Analysis
Payback Period
$0
out of pocket
ExcellentApprenticeship Available — Earn While You Learn
Machinists apprentices earn ~$175,910 during 2-5 years of training with $0 tuition.
Training Cost Breakdown
Training Cost
FREE
Training Time
2-5 years
Debt
$0
Payback
Instant
Typical path: Apprenticeship or community college; NIMS certifications; CNC programming skills valued
Machinists vs. College Degree
Training Cost
Average Debt
Time to First Paycheck
Cumulative Earnings Over 30 Years
Machinists vs. 4-year college degree (2.5% annual raises)
Machinistss start earning 1 years sooner
By the time a college graduate starts working, a machinists has already earned $212,930. After 25 years, the trade path nets $1,918,164 vs. $1,359,148 for a college degree — a clear financial advantage.
Debt Advantage
$37,088
less debt
Head Start
1 years
earning sooner
25-Year Trade
$1.9M
cumulative
25-Year College
$1.4M
cumulative
Salary Details in Utah
Machinists Salary Distribution in Utah
Annual wages by percentile
Salary by Percentile
Annual salary distribution from entry-level to top earners
Purchasing Power in Utah
Nominal Salary
$60,450
COL-Adjusted
$59,323
RPP: 101.9
Monthly Take-Home
$3,976
after taxes
After Housing
$2,491
rent: $1,485/mo
Employment Outlook
10-Year Growth
Annual Openings
33,300
Current Employment
310,600
Education: High school diploma or equivalent · Training: Long-term on-the-job training
Utah Economy
Median Income
$82,500
Median Home
$352,000
Unemployment
3.7%
Bachelor's Rate
33.7%
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Related ROI Analyses
Other trades in Utah
Machinists in other states
Ready to Get Started?
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