Machinist salary in Columbia, MO
Machinists in the Columbia, MO metro area earn a median of $50,120 a year ($24.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,820 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 15% lower than the Missouri statewide median of $58,710. There are 2.3 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $55,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in Columbia, MO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,480 | $18.98 |
| 25th percentile | $50,120 | $24.09 |
| Median | $50,120 | $24.09 |
| 75th percentile | $64,030 | $30.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,820 | $38.86 |
| Average (mean) | $55,640 | $26.75 |
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 | $4,176.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,088.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,927.69 |
| Weekly | $963.85 |
| Hourly | $24.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Machinist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $66,390 | 80 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,210 | 5,620 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $56,740 | 1,350 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $51,850 | 70 |
| Springfield, MO | $51,100 | 410 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,160 | 100 |
| Joplin, MO-KS | $46,820 | 360 |
Highest-paying states for machinists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 |
| Alaska | $77,670 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| Oregon | $63,820 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 |
| Vermont | $62,680 |
| Delaware | $62,650 |
See Machinist pay in every state or the Missouri statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, MO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,700 | $25.34 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,080 | $24.56 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,790 | $21.06 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $53,510 | $25.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $73,670 | $35.42 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| Baker | $31,690 | $15.24 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $35,870 | $17.25 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $42,050 | $20.22 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $40,550 | $19.50 |
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 Columbia, MO?
The median salary for machinists in the Columbia, MO metro area is $50,120 a year, or $24.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Columbia, MO?
The top 10% of machinists in the Columbia, MO metro area earn at least $80,820 a year. The top 25% earn $64,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Columbia, MO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,480 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $50,120 or less.
How many machinists work in Columbia, MO?
About 240 machinists are employed in the Columbia, MO metro area, not counting the self-employed.