What Machinists Make:
Not only do machinists make great money, but they also do really interesting work. They make everything from the rims on custom bikes to very precise aerospace parts to molds for things like sunglasses, and more. Almost every product consumers use have been touched by a machinist in some way.
In Weber county, the average wage for manufacturing workers is 40% higher than the national average, or $1,051 more per month. Machining is a highly skilled profession that offers great working conditions, excellent pay, yet does not require a four-year degree. Local employers are anxious to hire new OWATC graduates.
Watch this – Machinists Make A Difference
Machinist Level II
As a Machinist Level II, you will set up and operate metal cutting machine tools. This includes lathes, milling machines, drilling machines, and grinders. You will be positioning work pieces and using many types of cutting tools and measurement tools to machine student projects representing precision components used in the aerospace, automotive and consumer industries.The approximate completion time for the Machinist Level II Certificate is 1200 hours or 10 months at 30 hours per week and maintaining 100% progress.
Employer Advisory Team:
- Barnes Aerospace
- GSC
- Hill Air Force Base
- Innovative Precision LLC
- JD Machine
- Leanwerks
- Lifetime Products, Inc.
- Parker Hannifin
- Petersen, Inc.
- Williams International

Click here for link to ToolingU
Your Instructor(s)
I am Jeff Fowler, a Machinist Instructor for the Ogden Weber Tech College. I’ve worked in the machining industry for over 38 years as a machinist, tool & die, engineer, and teacher. I’ve been an Instructor with the college since 1992. I am a Journeyman Machinist having served a four year Machinist apprenticeship registered with the U.S. Department of Labor, have a Bachelor degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Weber State University and am a SME certified manufacturing engineer (CMfgE).
E-Mail: fowlerj@owatc.edu
Phone: 801-627-8408
Office Hours: Mondays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday-Wednesday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Thursdays 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Hi, I am Bret Holmes the Lead Machinist Instructor/Coordinator of the Machinist Program. I have 5 years of industry-related experience and have been an OWATC instructor at the college since 1997. I have an Associate of Applied Science degree in Machine Tool Technology/CNC from Weber State. I also hold a U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeships & Training Machinist Certificate. I am a Certified Metalcutting (CMP) professional from Kennametal. I would enjoy the opportunity to discuss the Machining career with you.
E-Mail: holmesb@owatc.edu
Phone: 801-395-3795
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Instruction; 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Administrative Time
I am Kurt Jensen, Machinist Instructor for the Ogden Weber Technology College. I teach both Machining and Pre-Engineering classes at the OWATC Machine Shop at Ogden High School. I have 5 years industry experience and have been an instructor since 2005. I have an Associate of Applied Science degree in Machine Tool Technology from Utah Valley University as well as Bachelors of Science in Technology Teacher Education from Brigham Young University. I am a Certified Metalcutting (CMP) professional from Kennametal. Machining is my career as well as my passion. I love to design and build parts using CAD/CAM software. I enjoy working with students to prepare them for a careers in Machining and Engineering.
E-Mail: jensenkt@owatc.edu
Phone: 801-737-8686
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. (August through May only)

