Machinist salary in Virginia
Median $29.47 an hour for 5,660 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Machinist pay in Virginia: the full range
Virginia ranks 14th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 30th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.15). 5,660 machinists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $21.69 – $23.99 | $45,120 – $49,900 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.99 – $34.36 | $49,900 – $71,470 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $34.36 – $41.53 | $71,470 – $86,380 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in Virginia
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | $23.47 | $33.10 | $54.69 | 620 | 12% above |
| Virginia Beach | $23.50 | $30.24 | $36.80 | 2,350 | 3% above |
| Richmond | $22.54 | $30.12 | $46.06 | 650 | 2% above |
| Lynchburg | $21.36 | $29.39 | $43.46 | 480 | about the same as |
| Staunton | $22.73 | $29.05 | $38.45 | 130 | 1% below |
| Blacksburg | $21.49 | $28.81 | $38.14 | 230 | 2% below |
| Kingsport | $17.30 | $27.83 | $36.54 | 450 | 6% below |
| Charlottesville | $16.59 | $26.73 | $38.48 | 50 | 9% below |
| Roanoke | $20.49 | $25.00 | $42.94 | 290 | 15% below |
| Harrisonburg | $18.85 | $23.99 | $35.37 | 60 | 19% below |
| Winchester | $19.95 | $23.62 | $36.85 | 100 | 20% below |
Machinist wages in Virginia over time
Table
| Year | Virginia $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.14 | $29.26 | $14.30 | 8,370 |
| 2000 | $15.87 | $29.67 | $14.78 | 6,660 |
| 2001 | $16.38 | $29.78 | $15.43 | 6,590 |
| 2002 | $16.42 | $29.38 | $15.66 | 7,120 |
| 2003 | $16.11 | $28.19 | $15.91 | 6,620 |
| 2004 | $16.50 | $28.12 | $16.33 | 7,220 |
| 2005 | $16.85 | $27.78 | $16.51 | 7,820 |
| 2006 | $17.21 | $27.48 | $16.71 | 7,170 |
| 2007 | $17.51 | $27.19 | $16.94 | 6,820 |
| 2008 | $17.84 | $26.68 | $17.41 | 7,250 |
| 2009 | $18.94 | $28.42 | $18.10 | 7,230 |
| 2010 | $19.26 | $28.44 | $18.52 | 7,340 |
| 2011 | $19.74 | $28.25 | $18.86 | 7,680 |
| 2012 | $19.78 | $27.74 | $18.99 | 7,370 |
| 2013 | $20.37 | $28.15 | $19.03 | 7,170 |
| 2014 | $20.67 | $28.11 | $19.22 | 6,670 |
| 2015 | $20.96 | $28.47 | $19.49 | 6,850 |
| 2016 | $21.79 | $29.23 | $20.05 | 6,460 |
| 2017 | $22.68 | $29.79 | $20.48 | 6,940 |
| 2018 | $23.71 | $30.40 | $20.97 | — |
| 2019 | $23.77 | $29.93 | $21.36 | 7,720 |
| 2020 | $25.06 | $31.17 | $22.04 | — |
| 2021 | $23.61 | $28.05 | $22.95 | 7,690 |
| 2022 | $28.01 | $30.81 | $23.32 | 8,250 |
| 2023 | $28.43 | $30.04 | $24.44 | 7,720 |
| 2024 | $29.29 | $30.06 | $27.00 | 6,140 |
| 2025 | $29.47 | $29.47 | $28.24 | 5,660 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Virginia changed by +3.5% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Virginia?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Virginia
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in Virginia?
The median machinist in Virginia earned $29.47 an hour ($61,290 a year) in May 2025, 4% above the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $23.99–$34.36; the top 10% earn more than $41.53.
Where does Virginia rank for machinist pay?
Virginia ranks 14th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $29.47 an hour, and 30th after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (BEA price parity 101.1, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in Virginia?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Virginia counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in Virginia?
BLS counted 5,660 machinists in Virginia in May 2025, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.75; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Virginia 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.