Machinist salary in Traverse City, MI
Machinists in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn a median of $49,420 a year ($23.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,870 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 6% lower than the Michigan statewide median of $52,360. There are 3.8 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $53,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in Traverse City, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| 25th percentile | $48,010 | $23.08 |
| Median | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| 75th percentile | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,870 | $30.71 |
| Average (mean) | $53,390 | $25.67 |
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 | $4,118.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,059.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,900.77 |
| Weekly | $950.38 |
| Hourly | $23.76 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | $62,850 | 350 |
| Monroe, MI | $60,210 | 210 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $59,850 | 750 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $59,310 | 7,680 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $55,500 | 290 |
| Midland, MI | $55,380 | 50 |
| Bay City, MI | $52,780 | 200 |
| Saginaw, MI | $52,360 | 650 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $51,990 | 630 |
| Niles, MI | $50,430 | 530 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $50,110 | 3,460 |
| Jackson, MI | $49,840 | 650 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $49,440 | 640 |
| Battle Creek, MI | $48,530 | 240 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $48,280 | 530 |
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 Michigan statewide figures.
Related jobs in Traverse City, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $38,070 | $18.31 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $63,260 | $30.41 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,260 | $17.44 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Baker | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $65,460 | $31.47 |
| Food Batchmaker | $45,610 | $21.93 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $44,190 | $21.24 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $54,020 | $25.97 |
| Sewing Machine Operator | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,870 | $22.54 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Traverse City, MI
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 Traverse City, MI?
The median salary for machinists in the Traverse City, MI metro area is $49,420 a year, or $23.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Traverse City, MI?
The top 10% of machinists in the Traverse City, MI metro area earn at least $63,870 a year. The top 25% earn $59,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Traverse City, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,070 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $48,010 or less.
How many machinists work in Traverse City, MI?
About 260 machinists are employed in the Traverse City, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.