Machine Fitters

(NOC 7316)

in All Trades and Transportation

Machine fitters fit, assemble, and otherwise build heavy industrial machinery and transportation equipment, including aircraft engines. These jobs require that you troubleshoot mechanical systems, recommend equipment changes or modifications, evaluate new equipment, and carry out preventive maintenance programs. They work for industrial machinery and transportation equipment manufacturing industries.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

  • Estimate 4040 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 8425 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

N/A

Minimum

N/A

Median

N/A

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$46,493

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$24.00

Median

$37.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$7,580

Minimum

$37,269

Median

$79,787

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Machine fitters fit, assemble, and otherwise build heavy industrial machinery and transportation equipment, including aircraft engines. These jobs require that you troubleshoot mechanical systems, recommend equipment changes or modifications, evaluate new equipment, and carry out preventive maintenance programs. They work for industrial machinery and transportation equipment manufacturing industries.

Job duties

Machine fitters:

  • Read and interpret blueprints, sketches, and diagrams to determine assembly operations.
  • Fit and assemble prefabricated metal parts to build heavy industrial machinery and equipment like construction, farming, and processing machinery, railway vehicles, and aircraft engines.
  • Move and align subassemblies and components using lifting and transporting devices like overhead cranes.
  • Install major components like gears, pumps, motors, or hydraulic assemblies.
  • Inspect parts, subassemblies, and finished products to ensure quality.

Sample job titles

  • assembly fitter
  • farm machinery builder
  • food-processing machine fitter
  • heavy equipment fitter
  • machine builder-fitter
  • manufacturing machinery fitter
  • mechanical fitter
  • production equipment fitter
  • ship engine fitter

Skills

  • You should have an interest in electronics and mechanical operations. A strong background in mathematics and the sciences is important. You must be able to cooperate with others and perform routine tasks. Agility, physical strength, and hand-eye coordination are needed. You must also have good vision and hearing, and an inclination to work with tools.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • A mechanical apprenticeship program like millwrighting, machining, pipefitting, automotive service or heavy equipment repair or completion of a four-year machine fitter apprenticeship program or completion of five years of on-the-job training is usually required.
  • A two- to three-year college program in aircraft manufacturing or general fabrication is required for aircraft engine fitters.
  • Certification in a related trade may be required.

Other considerations

  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

< 50

employed in 2016

66.7%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

0.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
100%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
48.7

median age

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

57,925

employed in 2016

85.9%

employed full-time

11.8%

self employed

5.3%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
94.7%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
46.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

55.6%

Halifax

N/A
22.2%

Cape Breton

N/A
22.2%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

50.0%

Manufacturing

25.0%

Construction

25.0%

Public administration

What is the age of Employment?

40.0%

45-54

20.0%

55-64

20.0%

65+

20.0%

35-44

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

24.4%

45-54

22.1%

55-64

17.7%

35-44

17.7%

25-34

10.9%

15-24

Top levels of education

33.3%

Trade Certification

N/A
33.3%

College Diploma

N/A

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

29.2%

Trade Certification

$46,494 median annual income
25.5%

High school

$31,260 median annual income
22.3%

College Diploma

$42,050 median annual income
18.7%

Less than high school

$28,319 median annual income
2.8%

Bachelor

$30,527 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply technical knowledge and skills to repair and maintain industrial machinery and equipment such as cranes, pumps, engines and motors, pneumatic tools, conveyor systems, production machinery, marine deck machinery, and steam propulsion, refinery, and pipeline-distribution systems.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Halifax, NS

Machine Tool Technology/Machinist - Pre-apprenticeship College Program

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to apply technical knowledge and skills to plan, manufacture, assemble, test, and repair parts, mechanisms, machines, and structures in which materials are cast, formed, shaped, moulded, heat treated, cut, twisted, pressed, fused, stamped or worked.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Pipefitter and Sprinkler Fitter - Pre-apprenticeship College Program

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to design, install, and test industrial and commercial piping systems and automatic fire and exposure protection systems. They include courses in water systems, steam systems, heating and cooling systems, lubricating systems, piping materials, installation tools operation and maintenance, valve installation and repair, technical mathematics, blueprint interpretation, and applicable codes and standards.

Institutions providing this program

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

UA 56 Pipe Trades Career College Inc.

Dartmouth, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
Enfield, NS

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.