A millwright assembles, maintains and repairs industrial equipment. As a machinist, you would set up lathes, drill presses and boring machines using specifications from engineers and designers. Following blueprints and using precision tools, they both work on hydraulic, pneumatic and electronic machines. You might work in construction on a contract basis, or in a plant, maintaining and repairing machines on an ongoing basis. Other occupations included in this group are construction equipment, farm machinery and sewing machine mechanincs. You would spend much of your time on your feet, and you would be required to lift and carry objects. One of the hazards involved in these jobs is noise. Your work week would normally be 35 to 40 hours with much of it being shiftwork.

WHAT YOU NEED:

To become a millwright or a machinist, you must complete a three-to-four-year apprenticeship, which is a combination of on-the-job and theoretical training. Usually Grade 10 is the minimum requirement. In some places, certification is necessary as a prerequisite to employment. You should be able to relate to people, and have mechanical aptitude for work with machines.

SALARY:
$39,000 to $44,000