Skilled Wages

Machinist salary in Washington

Median $31.81 an hour for 6,880 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.

$31.81/hrMedian hourly wageWashington, May data
$66,160/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$23.25 – $48.6110th to 90th percentilehourly range
6,880Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-09-28

Machinist pay in Washington: the full range

Wage percentiles, WashingtonMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrWashington: 10th $23.25 · 25th $28.25 · median $31.81 · 75th $38.62 · 90th $48.61Washington$31.81$23.25$48.61United States: 10th $18.85 · 25th $22.87 · median $28.24 · 75th $32.55 · 90th $38.47United States$28.24
Hourly wage percentiles for machinists: Washington vs United States, May 2025.

Washington ranks 5th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 24th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.73). 6,880 machinists work in the state.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry$23.25 – $28.25$48,360 – $58,760roughly the 10th–25th percentile
Journeyman$28.25 – $38.62$58,760 – $80,340the middle half, around the median
Master / foreman / specialist$38.62 – $48.61$80,340 – $101,110the 75th–90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Machinist pay by metro in Washington

Ranked median wages$0$20$40$60/hrBremerton: $38.76Bremerton$38.76Seattle: $35.85Seattle$35.85Kennewick: $32.72Kennewick$32.72Mount Vernon: $31.86Mount Vernon$31.86Portland: $30.85Portland$30.85Longview: $30.38Longview$30.38Lewiston: $30.06Lewiston$30.06Spokane: $29.08Spokane$29.08Bellingham: $28.80Bellingham$28.80Yakima: $28.63Yakima$28.63Olympia: $26.76Olympia$26.76Wenatchee: $24.82Wenatchee$24.82
Median hourly wage for machinists by metro area in Washington, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hr90thJobsvs state
Bremerton$25.85$38.76$48.9937022% above
Seattle$23.73$35.85$53.274,25013% above
Kennewick$24.69$32.72$55.031203% above
Mount Vernon$24.27$31.86$41.87140about the same as
Portland$23.51$30.85$40.142,0903% below
Longview$22.40$30.38$41.061404% below
Lewiston$19.00$30.06$35.76606% below
Spokane$21.77$29.08$38.085209% below
Bellingham$22.27$28.80$52.871509% below
Yakima$20.99$28.63$37.3718010% below
Olympia$23.10$26.76$34.8412016% below
Wenatchee$23.17$24.82$36.7913022% below

Machinist wages in Washington over time

Washington, 1999-2025WashingtonUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$20$30$40200020052010201520202025$31.81Washington$28.24United States
Median hourly wage for machinists, Washington vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearWashington $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$18.62$35.98$14.307,820
2000$18.35$34.31$14.786,500
2001$18.75$34.08$15.435,860
2002$18.64$33.36$15.665,790
2003$18.72$32.75$15.915,350
2004$18.74$31.94$16.335,770
2005$19.43$32.03$16.515,590
2006$20.09$32.08$16.715,500
2007$20.85$32.37$16.945,100
2008$21.75$32.52$17.415,530
2009$21.95$32.94$18.105,090
2010$22.25$32.85$18.525,000
2011$22.68$32.46$18.864,800
2012$22.57$31.65$18.995,530
2013$22.11$30.56$19.036,740
2014$21.64$29.43$19.228,180
2015$22.39$30.41$19.499,520
2016$23.31$31.27$20.059,970
2017$23.59$30.98$20.4810,140
2018$24.09$30.89$20.9710,300
2019$24.63$31.02$21.369,570
2020$25.45$31.66$22.048,630
2021$28.86$34.29$22.956,850
2022$29.30$32.23$23.326,970
2023$29.72$31.40$24.447,020
2024$31.01$31.83$27.006,980
2025$31.81$31.81$28.246,880

In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Washington changed by +4.6% over the last ten years of data.

Is construction work growing in Washington?

223.8kConstruction jobsWashington, 2026-08
-0.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k250k300k19901995200020052010201520202025224kAug 2026
Construction employment in Washington (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Keep comparing

Machinist pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Washington

Questions this page answers

How much do machinists make in Washington?

The median machinist in Washington earned $31.81 an hour ($66,160 a year) in May 2025, 13% above the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $28.25–$38.62; the top 10% earn more than $48.61.

Where does Washington rank for machinist pay?

Washington ranks 5th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $31.81 an hour, and 24th after adjusting for Washington's cost of living (BEA price parity 107.0, US = 100).

What is the union machinist rate in Washington?

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

How many machinists work in Washington?

BLS counted 6,880 machinists in Washington in May 2025, 1.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.05; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Washington 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.