Machinist salary in Virginia
Machinists in Virginia earn a median of $61,290 a year ($29.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,660 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,380 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $58,750. Virginia ranks 14th of 51 states for machinists pay. There are 1.4 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $62,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,120 | $21.69 |
| 25th percentile | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Median | $61,290 | $29.47 |
| 75th percentile | $71,470 | $34.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,380 | $41.53 |
| Average (mean) | $62,770 | $30.18 |
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 | $5,107.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,553.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,357.31 |
| Weekly | $1,178.65 |
| Hourly | $29.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Machinist salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $68,850 | 620 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $62,900 | 2,350 |
| Richmond, VA | $62,650 | 650 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $61,140 | 480 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $60,410 | 130 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $59,920 | 230 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $57,890 | 450 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $55,600 | 50 |
| Roanoke, VA | $52,000 | 290 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $49,900 | 60 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $49,130 | 100 |
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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for machinists in Virginia is $61,290 a year, or $29.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of machinists in Virginia earn at least $86,380 a year. The top 25% earn $71,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,120 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $49,900 or less.
How many machinists work in Virginia?
About 5,660 machinists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.