Machinist salary in Wisconsin
Median $28.42 an hour for 12,700 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Machinist pay in Wisconsin: the full range
Wisconsin ranks 26th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 15th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.20). 12,700 machinists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $19.52 – $23.29 | $40,600 – $48,430 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.29 – $30.46 | $48,430 – $63,350 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $30.46 – $36.67 | $63,350 – $76,280 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in Wisconsin
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $22.86 | $33.39 | $37.60 | 330 | 17% above |
| La Crosse | $17.83 | $30.27 | $38.67 | 170 | 7% above |
| Minneapolis | $22.84 | $29.84 | $38.67 | 9,420 | 5% above |
| Madison | $19.74 | $29.24 | $41.03 | 700 | 3% above |
| Eau Claire | $21.47 | $29.12 | $35.33 | 220 | 2% above |
| Appleton | $19.10 | $29.02 | $36.95 | 660 | 2% above |
| Milwaukee | $21.24 | $29.00 | $37.77 | 4,230 | 2% above |
| Green Bay | $21.46 | $28.98 | $35.98 | 660 | 2% above |
| Oshkosh | $21.58 | $28.88 | $35.43 | 340 | 2% above |
| Kenosha | $19.55 | $28.75 | $36.42 | 230 | 1% above |
| Racine | $19.82 | $27.75 | $35.21 | 450 | 2% below |
| Fond du Lac | $24.55 | $27.74 | $34.83 | 550 | 2% below |
| Sheboygan | $21.95 | $26.51 | $34.74 | 560 | 7% below |
| Wausau | $19.52 | $25.81 | $34.38 | 360 | 9% below |
| Janesville | $17.54 | $22.51 | $33.71 | 340 | 21% below |
Machinist wages in Wisconsin over time
Table
| Year | Wisconsin $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.76 | $28.52 | $14.30 | 16,640 |
| 2000 | $15.65 | $29.26 | $14.78 | 15,780 |
| 2001 | $16.40 | $29.81 | $15.43 | 14,240 |
| 2002 | $16.86 | $30.17 | $15.66 | 13,440 |
| 2003 | $16.62 | $29.08 | $15.91 | 13,740 |
| 2004 | $17.09 | $29.13 | $16.33 | 13,860 |
| 2005 | $17.30 | $28.52 | $16.51 | 14,380 |
| 2006 | $17.52 | $27.98 | $16.71 | 13,860 |
| 2007 | $17.38 | $26.99 | $16.94 | 16,580 |
| 2008 | $17.99 | $26.90 | $17.41 | 17,560 |
| 2009 | $18.71 | $28.08 | $18.10 | 15,920 |
| 2010 | $19.08 | $28.17 | $18.52 | 13,100 |
| 2011 | $19.15 | $27.41 | $18.86 | 15,020 |
| 2012 | $18.58 | $26.05 | $18.99 | 16,410 |
| 2013 | $19.19 | $26.52 | $19.03 | 16,130 |
| 2014 | $19.08 | $25.95 | $19.22 | 16,130 |
| 2015 | $19.83 | $26.94 | $19.49 | 15,110 |
| 2016 | $20.04 | $26.88 | $20.05 | 15,210 |
| 2017 | $20.17 | $26.49 | $20.48 | 13,750 |
| 2018 | $20.23 | $25.94 | $20.97 | 12,820 |
| 2019 | $19.99 | $25.17 | $21.36 | 11,670 |
| 2020 | $19.26 | $23.96 | $22.04 | 9,980 |
| 2021 | $19.26 | $22.88 | $22.95 | 9,540 |
| 2022 | $21.60 | $23.76 | $23.32 | 8,210 |
| 2023 | $22.69 | $23.97 | $24.44 | 10,590 |
| 2024 | $25.02 | $25.68 | $27.00 | 12,530 |
| 2025 | $28.42 | $28.42 | $28.24 | 12,700 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Wisconsin changed by +5.5% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Wisconsin?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Wisconsin
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in Wisconsin?
The median machinist in Wisconsin earned $28.42 an hour ($59,110 a year) in May 2025, 1% above the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $23.29–$30.46; the top 10% earn more than $36.67.
Where does Wisconsin rank for machinist pay?
Wisconsin ranks 26th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $28.42 an hour, and 15th after adjusting for Wisconsin's cost of living (BEA price parity 94.1, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in Wisconsin?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Wisconsin counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in Wisconsin?
BLS counted 12,700 machinists in Wisconsin in May 2025, 4.3 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 2.34; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Wisconsin 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.