Skilled Wages

Machinist salary in Rhode Island

Median $27.77 an hour for 860 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$27.77/hrMedian hourly wageRhode Island, May data
$57,760/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.10 – $39.6110th to 90th percentilehourly range
860Jobs countedemployer survey

Machinist pay in Rhode Island: the full range

Wage percentiles, Rhode IslandMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50/hrRhode Island: 10th $19.10 · 25th $23.71 · median $27.77 · 75th $34.53 · 90th $39.61Rhode Island$27.77$19.10$39.61United States: 10th $18.85 · 25th $22.87 · median $28.24 · 75th $32.55 · 90th $38.47United States$28.24
Hourly wage percentiles for machinists: Rhode Island vs United States, May 2025.

Rhode Island ranks 35th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 43rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $27.15). 860 machinists work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$19.10 – $23.71$39,720 – $49,320roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$23.71 – $34.53$49,320 – $71,820the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$34.53 – $39.61$71,820 – $82,400the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Machinist pay by metro in Rhode Island

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrProvidence: $28.34Providence$28.34
Median hourly wage for machinists by metro area in Rhode Island, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Providence$19.28$28.34$39.611,2902% above

Machinist wages in Rhode Island over time

Rhode Island, 1999-2025Rhode IslandUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$0$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$28.24United States$27.77Rhode Island
Median hourly wage for machinists, Rhode Island vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearRhode Island $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$9.68$18.71$14.303,040
2000$11.99$22.42$14.782,620
2001$14.56$26.47$15.432,030
2002$15.10$27.02$15.66—
2003$15.84$27.72$15.911,330
2004$17.13$29.19$16.331,280
2005$18.53$30.55$16.511,420
2006$18.69$29.85$16.711,440
2007$18.69$29.02$16.941,400
2008$19.40$29.01$17.411,410
2009$20.17$30.27$18.101,180
2010$21.05$31.08$18.521,130
2011$20.68$29.60$18.861,250
2012$21.00$29.45$18.991,340
2013$20.87$28.84$19.031,460
2014$20.15$27.40$19.221,300
2015$20.43$27.75$19.491,290
2016$20.63$27.67$20.051,490
2017$22.16$29.11$20.481,210
2018$23.06$29.57$20.971,200
2019$22.46$28.28$21.361,180
2020$21.90$27.24$22.041,300
2021$23.32$27.71$22.951,350
2022$24.87$27.36$23.321,070
2023$28.15$29.74$24.44850
2024$28.60$29.35$27.00860
2025$27.77$27.77$28.24860

In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Rhode Island changed by +0.1% over the last ten years of data.

Is construction work growing in Rhode Island?

23.0kConstruction jobsRhode Island, 2026-08
-2.5%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-20265k10k15k20k25k30k1990199520002005201020152020202523kAug 2026
Construction employment in Rhode Island (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Machinist pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Rhode Island

Questions this page answers

How much do machinists make in Rhode Island?

The median machinist in Rhode Island earned $27.77 an hour ($57,760 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $23.71–$34.53; the top 10% earn more than $39.61.

Where does Rhode Island rank for machinist pay?

Rhode Island ranks 35th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $27.77 an hour, and 43rd after adjusting for Rhode Island's cost of living (BEA price parity 102.3, US = 100).

What is the union machinist rate in Rhode Island?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Rhode Island counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many machinists work in Rhode Island?

BLS counted 860 machinists in Rhode Island in May 2025, 1.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.93; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Rhode Island 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.