Machinist salary: what machinists actually make
BLS employer-survey wages for 287,050 machinists nationwide, plus the union scale contractors must pay on federal jobs.
What machinists earn: the full range
The middle half of machinists earn between $22.87 and $32.55 an hour. The top 10% earn more than $38.47 ($80,010 a year); the bottom 10% earn less than $18.85.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.85 – $22.87 | $39,200 – $47,570 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.87 – $32.55 | $47,570 – $67,700 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $32.55 – $38.47 | $67,700 – $80,010 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Career-stage bands are an approximate reading of the wage distribution, not a BLS classification. Union journeyman scale by county is in the prevailing-wage section below.
Machinist pay by state
Table
| State | Median $/hr | vs US |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $40.58 | 44% above |
| Alaska | $37.34 | 32% above |
| District of Columbia | $35.05 | 24% above |
| Massachusetts | $32.34 | 15% above |
| Washington | $31.81 | 13% above |
| Oregon | $30.68 | 9% above |
| New Jersey | $30.38 | 8% above |
| Wyoming | $30.32 | 7% above |
| Vermont | $30.14 | 7% above |
| Delaware | $30.12 | 7% above |
| Connecticut | $29.87 | 6% above |
| North Dakota | $29.72 | 5% above |
| New Hampshire | $29.57 | 5% above |
| Virginia | $29.47 | 4% above |
| Utah | $29.46 | 4% above |
| Minnesota | $29.39 | 4% above |
| Louisiana | $29.38 | 4% above |
| Arizona | $29.37 | 4% above |
| Montana | $29.29 | 4% above |
| New York | $29.29 | 4% above |
| Colorado | $28.94 | 2% above |
| Maryland | $28.76 | 2% above |
| New Mexico | $28.58 | 1% above |
| Texas | $28.45 | 1% above |
| Maine | $28.44 | 1% above |
| Wisconsin | $28.42 | 1% above |
| Idaho | $28.28 | about the same as |
| Missouri | $28.23 | about the same as |
| Kentucky | $28.20 | about the same as |
| Illinois | $28.13 | about the same as |
| South Carolina | $27.87 | 1% below |
| Ohio | $27.86 | 1% below |
| Indiana | $27.79 | 2% below |
| Pennsylvania | $27.79 | 2% below |
| Rhode Island | $27.77 | 2% below |
| Iowa | $27.66 | 2% below |
| California | $27.49 | 3% below |
| Florida | $27.47 | 3% below |
| Nebraska | $26.86 | 5% below |
| Alabama | $26.71 | 5% below |
| Mississippi | $26.71 | 5% below |
| North Carolina | $26.56 | 6% below |
| Nevada | $25.51 | 10% below |
| Georgia | $25.29 | 10% below |
| Michigan | $25.17 | 11% below |
| Kansas | $24.63 | 13% below |
| Arkansas | $24.59 | 13% below |
| Oklahoma | $24.58 | 13% below |
| South Dakota | $24.47 | 13% below |
| Tennessee | $23.85 | 16% below |
| West Virginia | $22.77 | 19% below |
| State | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | Adjusted rank | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $40.58 | $36.89 | #1 | 260 |
| Alaska | $37.34 | $36.46 | #2 | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $35.05 | $31.89 | #6 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $32.34 | $30.57 | #14 | 7,080 |
| Washington | $31.81 | $29.73 | #24 | 6,880 |
| Oregon | $30.68 | $29.67 | #25 | 2,760 |
| New Jersey | $30.38 | $27.92 | #39 | 3,210 |
| Wyoming | $30.32 | $32.71 | #5 | 290 |
| Vermont | $30.14 | $30.76 | #12 | 220 |
| Delaware | $30.12 | $30.18 | #16 | 310 |
| Connecticut | $29.87 | $28.83 | #31 | 5,240 |
| North Dakota | $29.72 | $33.39 | #3 | 560 |
| New Hampshire | $29.57 | $28.38 | #33 | 1,620 |
| Virginia | $29.47 | $29.15 | #30 | 5,660 |
| Utah | $29.46 | $29.79 | #21 | 3,810 |
| Minnesota | $29.39 | $29.81 | #20 | 12,500 |
| Louisiana | $29.38 | $33.31 | #4 | 4,640 |
| Arizona | $29.37 | $29.17 | #29 | 4,330 |
| Montana | $29.29 | $30.96 | #11 | 630 |
| New York | $29.29 | $27.15 | #44 | 9,400 |
| Colorado | $28.94 | $28.07 | #37 | 2,800 |
| Maryland | $28.76 | $27.39 | #41 | 1,380 |
| New Mexico | $28.58 | $31.00 | #10 | 690 |
| Texas | $28.45 | $29.30 | #28 | 21,700 |
| Maine | $28.44 | $29.32 | #27 | 1,780 |
| Wisconsin | $28.42 | $30.20 | #15 | 12,700 |
| Idaho | $28.28 | $29.61 | #26 | 1,070 |
| Missouri | $28.23 | $31.09 | #9 | 8,380 |
| Kentucky | $28.20 | $31.26 | #8 | 6,040 |
| Illinois | $28.13 | $28.13 | #36 | 16,520 |
| South Carolina | $27.87 | $29.74 | #23 | 3,790 |
| Ohio | $27.86 | $30.02 | #18 | 17,110 |
| Indiana | $27.79 | $29.79 | #22 | 14,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $27.79 | $28.47 | #32 | 12,380 |
| Rhode Island | $27.77 | $27.15 | #43 | 860 |
| Iowa | $27.66 | $31.50 | #7 | 2,880 |
| California | $27.49 | $24.83 | #51 | 18,950 |
| Florida | $27.47 | $26.57 | #45 | 8,400 |
| Nebraska | $26.86 | $29.81 | #19 | 1,810 |
| Alabama | $26.71 | $30.08 | #17 | 5,170 |
| Mississippi | $26.71 | $30.70 | #13 | 1,920 |
| North Carolina | $26.56 | $28.17 | #35 | 8,330 |
| Nevada | $25.51 | $25.51 | #49 | 900 |
| Georgia | $25.29 | $26.26 | #46 | 6,090 |
| Michigan | $25.17 | $26.16 | #47 | 20,350 |
| Kansas | $24.63 | $27.34 | #42 | 3,870 |
| Arkansas | $24.59 | $28.30 | #34 | 2,150 |
| Oklahoma | $24.58 | $28.00 | #38 | 4,230 |
| South Dakota | $24.47 | $27.62 | #40 | 830 |
| Tennessee | $23.85 | $25.95 | #48 | 8,270 |
| West Virginia | $22.77 | $25.44 | #50 | 1,700 |
Machinist wages over time
Table
| Year | Nominal $/hr | In 2025 $ | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.30 | $27.63 | 419,800 |
| 2000 | $14.78 | $27.63 | 420,320 |
| 2001 | $15.43 | $28.05 | 390,090 |
| 2002 | $15.66 | $28.02 | 368,320 |
| 2003 | $15.91 | $27.84 | 368,740 |
| 2004 | $16.33 | $27.83 | 361,280 |
| 2005 | $16.51 | $27.22 | 368,380 |
| 2006 | $16.71 | $26.68 | 385,690 |
| 2007 | $16.94 | $26.30 | 410,900 |
| 2008 | $17.41 | $26.03 | 419,070 |
| 2009 | $18.10 | $27.16 | 380,720 |
| 2010 | $18.52 | $27.34 | 352,650 |
| 2011 | $18.86 | $26.99 | 368,510 |
| 2012 | $18.99 | $26.63 | 388,370 |
| 2013 | $19.03 | $26.30 | 391,130 |
| 2014 | $19.22 | $26.14 | 392,700 |
| 2015 | $19.49 | $26.47 | 399,040 |
| 2016 | $20.05 | $26.89 | 391,120 |
| 2017 | $20.48 | $26.90 | 378,320 |
| 2018 | $20.97 | $26.89 | 384,350 |
| 2019 | $21.36 | $26.90 | 383,470 |
| 2020 | $22.04 | $27.42 | 360,340 |
| 2021 | $22.95 | $27.27 | 333,220 |
| 2022 | $23.32 | $25.65 | 316,860 |
| 2023 | $24.44 | $25.82 | 290,720 |
| 2024 | $27.00 | $27.71 | 298,790 |
| 2025 | $28.24 | $28.24 | 287,050 |
Adjusted for inflation, the median machinist wage changed by +6.7% over the last ten years.
Highest-paying metros for machinists
| Metro | Median $/hr | 90th pct | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $35.85 | $53.27 | 4,250 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $34.65 | $45.00 | 4,870 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $33.10 | $54.69 | 620 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $32.57 | $60.57 | 1,610 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $32.55 | $41.92 | 870 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $32.21 | $49.60 | 550 |
| Ogden, UT | $31.38 | $38.08 | 1,260 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $31.34 | $38.58 | 1,100 |
| Worcester, MA | $31.00 | $39.55 | 930 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $30.93 | $41.05 | 2,680 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $30.85 | $40.14 | 2,090 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $30.75 | $44.99 | 580 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $30.55 | $46.99 | 1,370 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $30.34 | $46.27 | 500 |
| Springfield, MA | $30.33 | $38.43 | 920 |
Job outlook
The BLS Employment Projections program expects machinists employment to change by +1.0% over 2025-35, with about 26,100 openings a year from growth and people leaving the occupation. Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Compare machinist pay with other trades
See how machinist pay compares with other trades on the ranking of all trades and the comparison pages.
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make?
The median machinist earned $28.24 an hour, or $58,750 a year, in May 2025 according to the BLS employer survey of 287,050 jobs. Half earn more and half earn less; the middle 50% earn between $22.87 and $32.55 an hour.
How much do machinists make an hour?
Hourly pay runs from about $18.85 at the 10th percentile to $38.47 at the 90th, with a median of $28.24. Overtime, per-diem and union fringe benefits are not included in these figures.
What does a starting or apprentice machinist make?
Entry-level pay sits near the bottom of the distribution: roughly $18.85 to $22.87 an hour ($39,200 to $47,570 a year). Registered apprentices usually start at a fixed percentage of the local journeyman rate and step up every six to twelve months.
Which state pays machinists the most?
Hawaii had the highest median at $40.58 an hour in May 2025, followed by Alaska ($37.34) and District of Columbia ($35.05). Adjusted for cost of living the order changes; see the state table.
Are machinist wages going up?
In today's dollars the median machinist wage changed by +6.7% over the last ten years of data (CPI-adjusted). The nominal median rose from $19.49 to $28.24.
Is machinist a good career?
By the numbers: median pay of $58,750 a year, a 90th percentile of $80,010, projected growth of +1.0% and about 26,100 openings a year. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself; this site only reports the pay and demand data.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 51-4041 (Machinists). Wages exclude overtime and benefits.
- Inflation adjustment: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 2025 base.
- Cost-of-living adjustment: BEA Regional Price Parities, all items, latest year.
- Prevailing wage: SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national. Public-domain data; Skilled Wages is not affiliated with BLS.