Machinist salary in Lafayette, LA
Machinists in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn a median of $59,830 a year ($28.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 980 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,970 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 2% lower than the Louisiana statewide median of $61,110. There are 5.4 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,810, close to the median.
Pay range for machinists in Lafayette, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,470 | $18.97 |
| 25th percentile | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| Median | $59,830 | $28.77 |
| 75th percentile | $74,630 | $35.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,970 | $38.93 |
| Average (mean) | $59,810 | $28.75 |
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 | $4,985.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,492.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,301.15 |
| Weekly | $1,150.58 |
| Hourly | $28.77 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | $75,580 | 280 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | 870 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $66,990 | 550 |
| Monroe, LA | $63,350 | 130 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $61,700 | 110 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $60,440 | 340 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $55,560 | 570 |
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 Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lafayette, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $57,750 | $27.77 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,830 | $24.92 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $37,110 | $17.84 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,470 | $18.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $69,720 | $33.52 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | $43,830 | $21.07 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $36,210 | $17.41 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $26,710 | $12.84 |
| Baker | $28,040 | $13.48 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $29,570 | $14.22 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $49,930 | $24.01 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Lafayette, LA
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 Lafayette, LA?
The median salary for machinists in the Lafayette, LA metro area is $59,830 a year, or $28.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,470 for the lowest-paid 10% to $80,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Lafayette, LA?
The top 10% of machinists in the Lafayette, LA metro area earn at least $80,970 a year. The top 25% earn $74,630 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Lafayette, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,470 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $48,720 or less.
How many machinists work in Lafayette, LA?
About 980 machinists are employed in the Lafayette, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.