Machinist salary in Alabama
Median $26.71 an hour for 5,170 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Machinist pay in Alabama: the full range
Alabama ranks 40th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 17th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.08). 5,170 machinists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.16 – $22.28 | $37,770 – $46,340 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.28 – $31.82 | $46,340 – $66,190 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $31.82 – $38.16 | $66,190 – $79,380 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in Alabama
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence | $16.86 | $39.76 | $50.66 | 160 | 49% above |
| Huntsville | $21.60 | $30.04 | $41.09 | 670 | 12% above |
| Mobile | $18.61 | $29.82 | $37.41 | 380 | 12% above |
| Anniston | $19.17 | $29.56 | $33.77 | 240 | 11% above |
| Daphne | $18.71 | $29.13 | $39.02 | 140 | 9% above |
| Decatur | $21.75 | $28.00 | $42.31 | 290 | 5% above |
| Montgomery | $17.56 | $25.70 | $36.40 | 410 | 4% below |
| Tuscaloosa | $17.42 | $24.45 | $37.63 | 110 | 8% below |
| Birmingham | $18.12 | $24.41 | $36.88 | 1,110 | 9% below |
| Dothan | $17.07 | $24.40 | $34.58 | 90 | 9% below |
| Gadsden | $16.96 | $23.26 | $34.10 | 80 | 13% below |
| Auburn | $16.76 | $23.00 | $29.65 | 80 | 14% below |
Machinist wages in Alabama over time
Table
| Year | Alabama $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.96 | $26.98 | $14.30 | 7,950 |
| 2000 | $14.28 | $26.70 | $14.78 | 7,200 |
| 2001 | $14.28 | $25.96 | $15.43 | 6,900 |
| 2002 | $14.74 | $26.38 | $15.66 | 6,800 |
| 2003 | $15.22 | $26.63 | $15.91 | 6,180 |
| 2004 | $15.16 | $25.84 | $16.33 | 6,200 |
| 2005 | $15.65 | $25.80 | $16.51 | 6,150 |
| 2006 | $15.77 | $25.18 | $16.71 | 7,130 |
| 2007 | $16.67 | $25.88 | $16.94 | 6,900 |
| 2008 | $17.10 | $25.57 | $17.41 | 7,290 |
| 2009 | $17.40 | $26.11 | $18.10 | 6,520 |
| 2010 | $17.46 | $25.78 | $18.52 | 5,910 |
| 2011 | $18.25 | $26.12 | $18.86 | 6,090 |
| 2012 | $18.54 | $26.00 | $18.99 | 5,900 |
| 2013 | $18.52 | $25.59 | $19.03 | 6,710 |
| 2014 | $18.94 | $25.76 | $19.22 | 6,730 |
| 2015 | $19.37 | $26.31 | $19.49 | 6,760 |
| 2016 | $20.18 | $27.07 | $20.05 | 6,410 |
| 2017 | $20.36 | $26.74 | $20.48 | 5,920 |
| 2018 | $21.22 | $27.21 | $20.97 | 5,690 |
| 2019 | $21.57 | $27.16 | $21.36 | 5,770 |
| 2020 | $22.16 | $27.57 | $22.04 | 5,500 |
| 2021 | $22.64 | $26.90 | $22.95 | 5,400 |
| 2022 | $23.63 | $25.99 | $23.32 | 5,190 |
| 2023 | $23.71 | $25.05 | $24.44 | 6,230 |
| 2024 | $25.64 | $26.31 | $27.00 | 5,620 |
| 2025 | $26.71 | $26.71 | $28.24 | 5,170 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Alabama changed by +1.5% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Alabama?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Alabama
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in Alabama?
The median machinist in Alabama earned $26.71 an hour ($55,560 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $22.28–$31.82; the top 10% earn more than $38.16.
Where does Alabama rank for machinist pay?
Alabama ranks 40th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $26.71 an hour, and 17th after adjusting for Alabama's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.8, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in Alabama?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Alabama counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in Alabama?
BLS counted 5,170 machinists in Alabama in May 2025, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.33; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Alabama and metro areas, SOC 51-4041.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.