Machinist salary in St. Joseph, MO-KS
Machinists in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn a median of $66,390 a year ($31.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,690 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 13% higher than the Missouri statewide median of $58,710. There are 1.4 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $60,410, close to the median.
Pay range for machinists in St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| 25th percentile | $49,600 | $23.85 |
| Median | $66,390 | $31.92 |
| 75th percentile | $66,390 | $31.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,690 | $35.43 |
| Average (mean) | $60,410 | $29.04 |
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 | $5,532.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,766.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,553.46 |
| Weekly | $1,276.73 |
| Hourly | $31.92 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,210 | 5,620 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $56,740 | 1,350 |
| Topeka, KS | $56,400 | 150 |
| Jefferson City, MO | $51,850 | 70 |
| Manhattan, KS | $51,630 | 100 |
| Springfield, MO | $51,100 | 410 |
| Wichita, KS | $50,540 | 1,630 |
| Lawrence, KS | $50,460 | 60 |
| Columbia, MO | $50,120 | 240 |
| 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 St. Joseph, MO-KS
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $66,060 | $31.76 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $50,560 | $24.31 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $51,020 | $24.53 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $35,630 | $17.13 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $54,400 | $26.15 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $50,930 | $24.49 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $41,890 | $20.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,370 | $37.20 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,300 | $18.89 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,370 | $23.73 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $55,190 | $26.53 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in St. Joseph, MO-KS
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. Joseph, MO-KS?
The median salary for machinists in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area is $66,390 a year, or $31.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
The top 10% of machinists in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area earn at least $73,690 a year. The top 25% earn $66,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,190 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $49,600 or less.
How many machinists work in St. Joseph, MO-KS?
About 80 machinists are employed in the St. Joseph, MO-KS metro area, not counting the self-employed.