Machinist salary in Colorado
Median $28.94 an hour for 2,800 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Machinist pay in Colorado: the full range
Colorado ranks 21st of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 37th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.07). 2,800 machinists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.46 – $23.64 | $44,650 – $49,170 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.64 – $35.63 | $49,170 – $74,110 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $35.63 – $40.63 | $74,110 – $84,510 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in Colorado
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $23.45 | $30.76 | $49.60 | 240 | 6% above |
| Fort Collins | $22.82 | $29.57 | $37.00 | 480 | 2% above |
| Denver | $22.50 | $29.14 | $40.63 | 1,050 | 1% above |
| Greeley | $19.97 | $28.05 | $38.73 | 260 | 3% below |
| Colorado Springs | $18.31 | $27.65 | $36.98 | 380 | 4% below |
| Pueblo | $22.47 | $27.52 | $35.31 | 90 | 5% below |
| Grand Junction | $18.79 | $23.64 | $32.72 | 100 | 18% below |
Machinist wages in Colorado over time
Table
| Year | Colorado $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.01 | $29.01 | $14.30 | 4,370 |
| 2000 | $15.03 | $28.10 | $14.78 | 4,080 |
| 2001 | $15.92 | $28.94 | $15.43 | 3,800 |
| 2002 | $16.19 | $28.97 | $15.66 | 3,600 |
| 2003 | $16.16 | $28.27 | $15.91 | 3,420 |
| 2004 | $17.85 | $30.42 | $16.33 | 3,300 |
| 2005 | $18.44 | $30.40 | $16.51 | 3,750 |
| 2006 | $17.86 | $28.52 | $16.71 | 3,950 |
| 2007 | $17.85 | $27.72 | $16.94 | 3,870 |
| 2008 | $17.92 | $26.80 | $17.41 | 4,270 |
| 2009 | $19.00 | $28.51 | $18.10 | 3,990 |
| 2010 | $19.49 | $28.78 | $18.52 | 3,970 |
| 2011 | $19.62 | $28.08 | $18.86 | 4,150 |
| 2012 | $19.81 | $27.78 | $18.99 | 4,160 |
| 2013 | $20.26 | $28.00 | $19.03 | 4,530 |
| 2014 | $21.03 | $28.60 | $19.22 | 4,340 |
| 2015 | $20.93 | $28.43 | $19.49 | 4,730 |
| 2016 | $21.55 | $28.91 | $20.05 | 4,250 |
| 2017 | $21.71 | $28.51 | $20.48 | 3,920 |
| 2018 | $22.96 | $29.44 | $20.97 | 3,940 |
| 2019 | $22.72 | $28.61 | $21.36 | 4,520 |
| 2020 | $22.09 | $27.48 | $22.04 | 4,310 |
| 2021 | $23.12 | $27.47 | $22.95 | 3,740 |
| 2022 | $24.58 | $27.04 | $23.32 | 3,350 |
| 2023 | $27.43 | $28.98 | $24.44 | 2,900 |
| 2024 | $28.31 | $29.05 | $27.00 | 2,580 |
| 2025 | $28.94 | $28.94 | $28.24 | 2,800 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Colorado changed by +1.8% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Colorado?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Colorado
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in Colorado?
The median machinist in Colorado earned $28.94 an hour ($60,200 a year) in May 2025, 2% above the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $23.64–$35.63; the top 10% earn more than $40.63.
Where does Colorado rank for machinist pay?
Colorado ranks 21st of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $28.94 an hour, and 37th after adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (BEA price parity 103.1, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in Colorado?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Colorado counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in Colorado?
BLS counted 2,800 machinists in Colorado in May 2025, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.53; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Colorado 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.