What is a small machine shop?
Sophia Koch
Updated on January 06, 2026
A machine shop is a room, building, or company where machining, a form of subtractive manufacturing, is done. A machine shop can be a small business (such as a job shop) or a portion of a factory, whether a toolroom or a production area for manufacturing.
How much money does a machine shop make?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $36,000 and as low as $25,000, the majority of Machine Shop Worker salaries currently range between $28,000 (25th percentile) to $31,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $35,500 annually across the United States.
Is a machine shop profitable?
The study found that the characteristics of these higher performing CNC machine shops included gross sales that were 14% higher than other shops, and median net income margin of 12.9% versus 5.9%. …
How do I choose a machine shop?
Tips for Choosing a Machine Shop
- Look for Long-Term Value, Not Just the Cheapest Price.
- Make Sure They Have the Capabilities You Need.
- Is Their Equipment Up to Date?
- Are They ISO Certified?
- Who Are Their Current Customers?
- Dig Deeply Into Their Business Details.
- Are They Hiring?
- Do They Ensure On-Time Delivery?
What does machine shop do?
A machine shop is a facility with equipment and supplies for machining, a process where parts are cut, fabricated, and finished to prepare them for use. Machine shops are used in the creation of new parts, as well as repairs of existing equipment and parts.
What is the importance of machine shop?
A machine shop is a room or building in a company where machining or any form of subtractive manufacturing is carried out. In a machine shop, machining mechanics use machine tools or cutting tools to manufacture parts made of metal, plastic and other materials such as glass and wood.
How much electricity does a machine shop use?
On average, manufacturing facilities use 95.1 kilowatt-hours ( kWh ) of electricity and 536,500 Btu of natural gas per square foot each year, though actual consumption varies widely across subsectors. Figure 1 shows a breakdown of energy use for the five manufacturing subsectors that consume the most energy.
How profitable is a CNC business?
How much profit can a CNC Machining Business make? Most successful CNC machining businesses operate on a 10 to 15 percent net profit margin. For a shop that has just $500,000 in annual work, that generates a profit of $50,000 to $75,000 on top of the business owner’s salary.
Is a CNC machine a good investment?
A CNC machine is an “investment,” not an “expense.” If you think of it as a cost, you’re only going to focus on money, and not what the CNC machine can do for your business. The right quality machinery can be a huge asset to your company. You can get jobs done faster with greater quality.
What does a machine shop do?
What’s the best way to start a small machine shop?
1. A good contact within a business that you know is looking for someone to do the small jobs that are too costly for it to do internally or at a large shop. 2. A willingness to work all night or all weekend to deliver a part when the larger established shops cannot respond quickly.
What kind of tools do I want to buy?
Woodworking, Joiners, Cabinet Makers, Leatherworking Tools, Carving & Woodturning Tools, other tools purchased. For large lots such as workshop clearances or a large chest of tools we can often collect depending on location. For smaller collections of tools we may ask for the items to be sent by courier.
Where can I buy used metalworking equipment?
MachineTools.com, The metalworking machine & tooling marketplace for new & used equipment. Find new and used metalworking machines, machine tools, and fabricating equipment. Sell your machinery to buyers all over the world. Post a FREE Wanted describing what you are looking for and companies will contact you directly.
Which is the largest online marketplace only for patents?
We are the largest online marketplace only for patents. If you have questions about any specific invention, you can contact the inventor directly through the site. Are you looking to sell your patent or bring your invention to the next level ? List your patented (or patent pending) inventions.