How to become a machine fitter
Official title: Machine fitters
Also called: Crane fitter, Grader fitter, Machine fitter, Turbine fitter, Assembly fitter, Machine builder, Compressor fitter, Locomotive fitter, Mechanical fitter, Ship engine fitter, Machine tool builder, Railway coach fitter
Machine fitters fit, assemble and otherwise build heavy industrial machinery and transportation equipment, including aircraft engines. They are employed in industrial machinery and transportation equipment manufacturing industries.
Main tasks
- Read and interpret blueprints, sketches and diagrams to determine assembly operations
- Fit and assemble prefabricated metal parts to build heavy industrial machinery and equipment such as construction, farming, and processing machinery, railway vehicles and aircraft engines
- Move and align subassemblies and components using lifting and transporting devices such as overhead cranes
- Install major components such as gears, pumps, motors or hydraulic assemblies
- Inspect parts, subassemblies and finished products to ensure quality
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a mechanical apprenticeship program, such as 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. Completion of 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.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Apprenticeship. Completion of a mechanical apprenticeship program, such as 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. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $69,011 a year
Related jobs
- Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
- Railway carmen/women
- Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- Elevator constructors and mechanics
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Questions people ask
How do I become a machine fitter?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a mechanical apprenticeship program, such as 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. Completion of 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.
How much does a machine fitter earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $69,011 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)).
Do you need a degree to become a machine fitter?
Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Apprenticeship.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03