Machinist salary in the U.S.
Machinists in the U.S. earn a median of $58,750 a year ($28.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 287,050 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,010 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $59,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| 25th percentile | $47,570 | $22.87 |
| Median | $58,750 | $28.24 |
| 75th percentile | $67,700 | $32.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,010 | $38.47 |
| Average (mean) | $59,320 | $28.52 |
Half of machinists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,895.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,447.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,259.62 |
| Weekly | $1,129.81 |
| Hourly | $28.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Machinist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 | 260 |
| Alaska | $77,670 | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 | 7,080 |
| Washington | $66,160 | 6,880 |
| Oregon | $63,820 | 2,760 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 | 3,210 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 | 290 |
| Vermont | $62,680 | 220 |
| Delaware | $62,650 | 310 |
| Connecticut | $62,130 | 5,240 |
| North Dakota | $61,820 | 560 |
| New Hampshire | $61,500 | 1,620 |
| Virginia | $61,290 | 5,660 |
| Utah | $61,280 | 3,810 |
| Minnesota | $61,140 | 12,500 |
| Louisiana | $61,110 | 4,640 |
| Arizona | $61,080 | 4,330 |
| Montana | $60,920 | 630 |
| New York | $60,920 | 9,400 |
| Colorado | $60,200 | 2,800 |
| Maryland | $59,810 | 1,380 |
| New Mexico | $59,440 | 690 |
| Texas | $59,180 | 21,700 |
| Maine | $59,160 | 1,780 |
| Wisconsin | $59,110 | 12,700 |
| Idaho | $58,810 | 1,070 |
| Missouri | $58,710 | 8,380 |
| Kentucky | $58,660 | 6,040 |
| Illinois | $58,520 | 16,520 |
| South Carolina | $57,970 | 3,790 |
| Ohio | $57,940 | 17,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,810 | 12,380 |
| Indiana | $57,800 | 14,320 |
| Rhode Island | $57,760 | 860 |
| Iowa | $57,540 | 2,880 |
| California | $57,190 | 18,950 |
| Florida | $57,140 | 8,400 |
| Nebraska | $55,860 | 1,810 |
| Alabama | $55,560 | 5,170 |
| Mississippi | $55,550 | 1,920 |
| North Carolina | $55,230 | 8,330 |
| Nevada | $53,050 | 900 |
| Georgia | $52,610 | 6,090 |
| Michigan | $52,360 | 20,350 |
| Kansas | $51,220 | 3,870 |
| Arkansas | $51,140 | 2,150 |
| Oklahoma | $51,120 | 4,230 |
| South Dakota | $50,890 | 830 |
| Tennessee | $49,600 | 8,270 |
| West Virginia | $47,350 | 1,700 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,280 | 1,250 |
Best-paying metro areas for machinists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $84,410 | 250 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $82,690 | 160 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $80,620 | 370 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $77,650 | 30 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $75,580 | 280 |
| Anchorage, AK | $75,040 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $74,560 | 4,250 |
| Bismarck, ND | $74,090 | 70 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $72,060 | 4,870 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $71,620 | 50 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $71,590 | 300 |
| Albany, OR | $71,300 | 190 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $71,290 | 120 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $69,440 | 330 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $68,850 | 620 |
Metro areas with the most machinists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 11,270 | $59,520 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 9,420 | $62,070 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 8,140 | $61,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,850 | $55,660 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 7,680 | $59,310 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 5,620 | $62,210 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 4,870 | $72,060 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 4,660 | $59,830 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,300 | $62,750 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,250 | $74,560 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 4,230 | $60,320 |
| Cleveland, OH | 3,980 | $58,240 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 3,540 | $50,610 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 3,460 | $50,110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,330 | $61,280 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for machinists in the U.S. is $58,750 a year, or $28.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of machinists in the U.S. earn at least $80,010 a year. The top 25% earn $67,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,200 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $47,570 or less.
How many machinists work in the U.S.?
About 287,050 machinists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.