OneTwo Resume

Machinist resume skills and keywords

In 151 Machinist job postings from 75 employers analysed on October 23, 2026, the most requested skills are CNC (93 %), Machining (81 %), GD&T (46 %), Attention to detail (43 %) and CAMS (38 %). Of the top 40 skills, 30 are hard skills, tools or certifications and 10 are soft skills.

Download the full list as a CSV or check your own resume against a posting with the free keyword scanner.

Top 40 skills in Machinist job postings

Skills requested in 151 Machinist job postings, by share of postings
SkillShare of postingsType
CNC93 %Tool
Machining81 %Hard skill
GD&T46 %Hard skill
Attention to detail43 %Soft skill
CAMS38 %Certification
Communication33 %Soft skill
CAD29 %Hard skill
Measuring28 %Hard skill
Mastercam25 %Tool
Troubleshooting24 %Hard skill
CNC Programming21 %Hard skill
Continuous improvement21 %Hard skill
G-code19 %Tool
SolidWorks17 %Tool
Collaboration17 %Soft skill
Problem Solving16 %Soft skill
Technical Drawing15 %Hard skill
Blueprints15 %Tool
Process improvement15 %Hard skill
Hand tools14 %Tool
Robotics14 %Hard skill
Teamwork14 %Soft skill
Machine Maintenance13 %Hard skill
Prototyping13 %Hard skill
Math11 %Hard skill
PPE11 %Hard skill
Manufacturing Processes11 %Hard skill
Fusion 36011 %Tool
Creativity11 %Soft skill
Precision Measuring Instruments11 %Hard skill
CMMS10 %Tool
Mentoring9 %Soft skill
Microsoft Office9 %Tool
Security clearance9 %Certification
Precision Measurement9 %Hard skill
Finishing9 %Hard skill
Talent acquisition8 %Hard skill
Leadership7 %Soft skill
Flexibility7 %Soft skill
Sense of urgency7 %Soft skill

Hard skills vs soft skills vs tools and certifications

Hard skills (19)

Soft skills (10)

Tools and software (9)

Certifications and licenses (2)

Keyword phrases recruiters use

Multi-word phrases that recur across these machinist postings, with the share of postings that use each one.

permanent resident 27 %multi axis 25 %u.s citizen 25 %engineering drawings 24 %u.s department 23 %green card holder 22 %height gauges 22 %tight tolerances 21 %mill/lathe 21 %machining operations 21 %lawful permanent 21 %calipers micrometers 20 %machining processes 19 %extended periods 19 %export regulations 19 %

How to use this on your resume

Treat the table as a checklist, not a script. Put the skills you genuinely have in your skills section, using the same wording as the posting, and back the top ones with a bullet that shows the result.

Each job posting differs from the average, so compare your resume with the actual ad: paste it into the resume keyword scanner to see which terms you already have and which are missing. The ATS keywords guide explains where to place them so applicant tracking systems read them.

Skip any skill you cannot talk about in an interview; a keyword that falls apart under one question costs more than it gains. For a full layout with these skills in context, see the Machinist resume example. Then prepare for the Machinist interview questions that test them.

Build a machinist resume with these skills

Start in the editor, tailor your bullets to the job you want and download an ATS-friendly resume.

Start Building My ResumeScan a job posting

Machinist resume skills: FAQ

Which skills matter most for a Machinist resume?

In 151 Machinist job postings analysed on October 23, 2026, the most requested skills were CNC (93 %), Machining (81 %), GD&T (46 %), Attention to detail (43 %) and CAMS (38 %). Lead your skills section with the ones you can back up, and show them in your experience bullets too.

Should I list soft skills on a Machinist resume?

Yes, but prove them rather than list them. 10 of the top 40 skills in these postings are soft skills, led by Attention to detail (43 % of postings). Show them through results in your bullets, for example a project you coordinated or a process you explained.

Which tools and certifications do Machinist postings ask for?

The tools and certifications named most often were CNC (93 %), CAMS (38 %), Mastercam (25 %), G-code (19 %), SolidWorks (17 %) and Blueprints (15 %). List the ones you have exactly as the posting writes them.

Where does this data come from?

From 151 public Machinist job postings at 75 employers, collected on October 23, 2026 from Greenhouse (88), Lever (44) and Ashby (19). A skill's share is the number of postings that mention it divided by 151. The data is updated quarterly and can be downloaded as a CSV.

Method and data

Source: 151 public job postings for machinist roles (titles such as CNC Machinist, Machinist, CNC Programmer and CNC Operator) at 75 employers, collected on October 23, 2026 from employer applicant tracking system job boards: Greenhouse 88, Lever 44 and Ashby 19. Employers in the sample include SpaceX, Relativity Space, Rocket Lab Corporation, Re:Build Manufacturing, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope and Maxcess International. A skill's share is the number of postings that mention it divided by 151. Updated quarterly. Download the data: machinist-resume-skills.csv (CC BY 4.0). Browse skills for other roles.