CNC Machining Jobs in Cleveland, OH

The CNC machining industry in Cleveland is a key player in the U.S. economy, and ranks among the top machining cities in America. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Cleveland metropolitan area employs 2,790 CNC programmer/operators, putting the area inside the top 10 nationally. "Programmers" have an hourly mean wage of $27.62, and "operators" have an hourly mean wage of $21.46.

The Cleveland area is home to several schools that offer CNC machining-related programs, ranging from certificate and diploma programs to associate's degrees. Here are the top five CNC Machining Schools (in no particular order) in the Cleveland Metropolitan Area:

1. The University of Akron - The university’s College of Applied Science and Technology is home to its nationally-recognized Precision Machining program, which prepares students for CNC machining positions in the manufacturing industry. The program covers CNC programming, CNC operations, blueprint reading, quality assurance methods and much more.
2. Cuyahoga Community College - CCC’s Precision Machining Technology Department provides an Associate of Applied Science degree that focuses on CNC machining. CCC’s CNC machining program provides students with hands-on experience in industrial settings and prepares them for the real world of CNC programming, CNC operations and CNC machine maintenance.
3. Cleveland State University - CSU’s CNC Machining Certificate Program is designed for students who want to learn about CNC machining operations in a short period of time. The CNC Machining Certificate Program offers CNC programming, CNC machine setup and CNC tooling courses as well as advanced CNC operations and CNC maintenance courses.
4. Lorain County Community College - LCCC’s Precision Machining program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue CNC machining careers. Students gain CNC programming experience on CNC mills, CNC lathes, CNC grinders, CNC routers and CNC saws.
5. Lakeland Community College - LCC’s CNC Precision Machining program is designed for students who want to learn CNC machining operations in a short period of time. Courses cover CNC programming, CNC machine setup and CNC tooling as well as CNC lathe operations, CNC mill operations and CNC grinding.

Major employers in the area include automotive and aerospace manufacturing facilities, medical device companies, and tooling and die shops. Swagelok, nVent, Applied Medical Technology (AMT), BWX Technologies & Mueller Water Products are frequently hiring for CNC related positions. 

Cleveland faces several challenges when it comes to CNC Machining. The first is an aging workforce, as experienced machinists are set to retire in the near future. This could lead to a shortage of skilled CNC Machinists in Cleveland. Additionally, the city faces competition from other U.S. cities that offer more attractive wages and job opportunities. Furthermore, Cleveland's limited public transportation system can be an obstacle for those needing to travel to and from work.

Despite these challenges, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has ranked CNC Machining in Cleveland as one of the top ten U.S. cities for machinist jobs, providing ample evidence that this industry is critical to the area. With the right educational training and technical experience, Cleveland's CNC Machinists can create a successful career in this vibrant industry.