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Skills that raise your rate

• Programming

  Writing and proving out the code rather than running someone else's. The clearest pay jump in the shop.

• Five-axis machining

  Complex aerospace and medical parts. Fewer people can do it, so it pays more.

• Swiss-style turning

  Tiny high-volume parts, common in medical device work.

• Inspection and quality

  Coordinate measuring machines and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing. A path off the shop floor.