Machinist salary in St. Cloud, MN
Machinists in the St. Cloud, MN metro area earn a median of $62,230 a year ($29.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 460 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,340 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 2% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $61,140. There are 4.5 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $64,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in St. Cloud, MN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,280 | $23.21 |
| 25th percentile | $57,680 | $27.73 |
| Median | $62,230 | $29.92 |
| 75th percentile | $74,660 | $35.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,340 | $37.18 |
| Average (mean) | $64,110 | $30.82 |
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 | $5,185.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,592.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,393.46 |
| Weekly | $1,196.73 |
| Hourly | $29.92 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | $69,440 | 330 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $62,960 | 170 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $62,070 | 9,420 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $61,820 | 130 |
| Mankato, MN | $61,120 | 160 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $57,890 | 100 |
| Rochester, MN | $57,770 | 270 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $52,000 | 160 |
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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in St. Cloud, MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $62,820 | $30.20 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $48,370 | $23.26 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,060 | $24.55 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $45,220 | $21.74 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $57,110 | $27.46 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $52,330 | $25.16 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $74,760 | $35.94 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | $39,370 | $18.93 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $39,620 | $19.05 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $50,450 | $24.26 |
| Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters | $46,270 | $22.25 |
| Food Batchmaker | $40,780 | $19.61 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $38,650 | $18.58 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in St. Cloud, MN
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 St. Cloud, MN?
The median salary for machinists in the St. Cloud, MN metro area is $62,230 a year, or $29.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in St. Cloud, MN?
The top 10% of machinists in the St. Cloud, MN metro area earn at least $77,340 a year. The top 25% earn $74,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in St. Cloud, MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,280 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $57,680 or less.
How many machinists work in St. Cloud, MN?
About 460 machinists are employed in the St. Cloud, MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.