Machinist salary

Machinists in the U.S. earn a median $58,750 a year.

Median pay
$58,750
Median hourly
$28.24
Typical range
$39,200–$80,010
Jobs
287,050

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for machinists in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$39,200
25th$47,570
Median$58,750
75th$67,700
90th (top earners)$80,010

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$59,52011,270
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$62,0709,420
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$61,2808,140
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$55,6607,850
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$59,3107,680
St. Louis, MO-IL$62,2105,620
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$72,0604,870
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$59,8304,660
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$62,7504,300
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$74,5604,250

Machinist salary by state

  1. 1Hawaii$84,410
  2. 2Alaska$77,670
  3. –District of Columbia$72,900
  4. 3Massachusetts$67,270
  5. 4Washington$66,160
  6. 5Oregon$63,820
  7. 6New Jersey$63,190
  8. 7Wyoming$63,070
  9. 8Vermont$62,680
  10. 9Delaware$62,650
  11. 10Connecticut$62,130
  12. 11North Dakota$61,820
  13. 12New Hampshire$61,500
  14. 13Virginia$61,290
  15. 14Utah$61,280
  16. 15Minnesota$61,140
  17. 16Louisiana$61,110
  18. 17Arizona$61,080
  19. 18Montana$60,920
  20. 19New York$60,920
  21. 20Colorado$60,200
  22. 21Maryland$59,810
  23. 22New Mexico$59,440
  24. 23Texas$59,180
  25. 24Maine$59,160
  26. 25Wisconsin$59,110
  27. 26Idaho$58,810
  28. 27Missouri$58,710
  29. 28Kentucky$58,660
  30. 29Illinois$58,520
  31. 30South Carolina$57,970
  32. 31Ohio$57,940
  33. 32Pennsylvania$57,810
  34. 33Indiana$57,800
  35. 34Rhode Island$57,760
  36. 35Iowa$57,540
  37. 36California$57,190
  38. 37Florida$57,140
  39. 38Nebraska$55,860
  40. 39Alabama$55,560
  41. 40Mississippi$55,550
  42. 41North Carolina$55,230
  43. 42Nevada$53,050
  44. 43Georgia$52,610
  45. 44Michigan$52,360
  46. 45Kansas$51,220
  47. 46Arkansas$51,140
  48. 47Oklahoma$51,120
  49. 48South Dakota$50,890
  50. 49Tennessee$49,600
  51. 50West Virginia$47,350
  52. –Puerto Rico$29,280

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

CNC machining schoolsHow to become a machinist

Frequently asked questions

How much do machinists make?

The median pay for machinists in the U.S. is $58,750 a year ($28.24 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,200, and the top 10% earn over $80,010.

Which states pay machinists the most?

The top-paying states are Hawaii ($84,410), Alaska ($77,670), Massachusetts ($67,270), Washington ($66,160), Oregon ($63,820).

How can a machinist earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a machinist covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Machinists, SOC 51-4041). Figures exclude self-employed workers.