Machinist salary in Pennsylvania
Median $27.79 an hour for 12,380 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Machinist pay in Pennsylvania: the full range
Pennsylvania ranks 34th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 32nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.47). 12,380 machinists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $19.05 – $22.79 | $39,620 – $47,410 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.79 – $30.63 | $47,410 – $63,700 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $30.63 – $37.06 | $63,700 – $77,090 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in Pennsylvania
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $20.91 | $29.46 | $38.95 | 3,330 | 6% above |
| Reading | $21.16 | $28.63 | $35.29 | 440 | 3% above |
| Allentown | $18.90 | $28.53 | $36.34 | 630 | 3% above |
| Williamsport | $18.36 | $28.01 | $35.08 | 80 | 1% above |
| Lancaster | $19.35 | $27.26 | $35.21 | 560 | 2% below |
| Harrisburg | $20.20 | $26.96 | $36.01 | 360 | 3% below |
| Pittsburgh | $18.72 | $26.86 | $35.84 | 2,760 | 3% below |
| Erie | $19.22 | $26.50 | $40.14 | 640 | 5% below |
| Johnstown | $20.53 | $26.40 | $31.07 | 150 | 5% below |
| York | $20.63 | $25.62 | $36.09 | 540 | 8% below |
| Altoona | $17.83 | $25.32 | $30.25 | 120 | 9% below |
| Lebanon | $19.05 | $25.30 | $33.11 | 170 | 9% below |
| State College | $17.84 | $24.47 | $35.26 | 120 | 12% below |
| Scranton | $15.51 | $23.97 | $35.14 | 430 | 14% below |
| Chambersburg | $18.64 | $23.27 | $35.30 | 190 | 16% below |
| Gettysburg | $18.17 | $22.39 | $29.92 | 80 | 19% below |
Machinist wages in Pennsylvania over time
Table
| Year | Pennsylvania $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.31 | $27.65 | $14.30 | 21,810 |
| 2000 | $14.43 | $26.98 | $14.78 | 22,400 |
| 2001 | $15.19 | $27.61 | $15.43 | 20,420 |
| 2002 | $15.53 | $27.79 | $15.66 | 17,450 |
| 2003 | $15.72 | $27.51 | $15.91 | 17,360 |
| 2004 | $15.92 | $27.13 | $16.33 | 16,870 |
| 2005 | $16.11 | $26.56 | $16.51 | 18,750 |
| 2006 | $16.41 | $26.21 | $16.71 | 20,170 |
| 2007 | $17.15 | $26.63 | $16.94 | 21,190 |
| 2008 | $17.56 | $26.26 | $17.41 | 19,600 |
| 2009 | $18.19 | $27.30 | $18.10 | 18,150 |
| 2010 | $18.55 | $27.39 | $18.52 | 16,370 |
| 2011 | $19.00 | $27.19 | $18.86 | 19,060 |
| 2012 | $18.97 | $26.60 | $18.99 | 19,850 |
| 2013 | $18.97 | $26.22 | $19.03 | 19,940 |
| 2014 | $19.36 | $26.33 | $19.22 | 19,950 |
| 2015 | $19.45 | $26.42 | $19.49 | 20,480 |
| 2016 | $19.82 | $26.59 | $20.05 | 19,120 |
| 2017 | $20.52 | $26.95 | $20.48 | 17,750 |
| 2018 | $21.02 | $26.95 | $20.97 | 17,060 |
| 2019 | $21.93 | $27.62 | $21.36 | 17,000 |
| 2020 | $22.86 | $28.44 | $22.04 | 15,340 |
| 2021 | $22.95 | $27.27 | $22.95 | 11,490 |
| 2022 | $23.23 | $25.55 | $23.32 | 12,500 |
| 2023 | $24.33 | $25.71 | $24.44 | 13,250 |
| 2024 | $25.27 | $25.93 | $27.00 | 15,060 |
| 2025 | $27.79 | $27.79 | $28.24 | 12,380 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Pennsylvania changed by +5.2% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Pennsylvania?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Pennsylvania
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in Pennsylvania?
The median machinist in Pennsylvania earned $27.79 an hour ($57,810 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $22.79–$30.63; the top 10% earn more than $37.06.
Where does Pennsylvania rank for machinist pay?
Pennsylvania ranks 34th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $27.79 an hour, and 32nd after adjusting for Pennsylvania's cost of living (BEA price parity 97.6, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in Pennsylvania?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Pennsylvania counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in Pennsylvania?
BLS counted 12,380 machinists in Pennsylvania in May 2025, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.11; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Pennsylvania 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.