SOC 51-4041 · May 2025
Machinist Salary
Machinists in the US earn a median of $58,750 a year ($28.52 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Machinist pay climbed from $46,120 in 2019 to $59,320 in 2025, a +28.6% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$58,750
Half of all Machinists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+28.6% since 2019 · +3.4% YoY
Hourly
$28.52
Job growth 2025-35
+1%
US workers
287,050
BLS series
Annual median wage for Machinists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Machinists is $39,200 – $80,010.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$39,200
25th
$47,570
Median
$58,750
75th
$67,700
90th
$80,010
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Machinists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $39,200 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $47,570 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $58,750 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $67,700 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $80,010 |
Geography
Machinist pay by state
Machinists earn the most in Hawaii ($84,410, +44% against the national median) and the least in West Virginia ($47,350). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$58,750
Highest-paying states for machinists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 | +44% | 260 |
| Alaska | $77,670 | +32% | 120 |
| D.C. | $72,900 | +24% | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 | +15% | 7,080 |
| Washington | $66,160 | +13% | 6,880 |
| Oregon | $63,820 | +9% | 2,760 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 | +8% | 3,210 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 | +7% | 290 |
| Vermont | $62,680 | +7% | 220 |
| Delaware | $62,650 | +7% | 310 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 | 260 |
| Alaska | $77,670 | 120 |
| D.C. | $72,900 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 | 7,080 |
| Washington | $66,160 | 6,880 |
| Oregon | $63,820 | 2,760 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 | 3,210 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 | 290 |
| Vermont | $62,680 | 220 |
| Delaware | $62,650 | 310 |
| Connecticut | $62,130 | 5,240 |
| North Dakota | $61,820 | 560 |
| New Hampshire | $61,500 | 1,620 |
| Virginia | $61,290 | 5,660 |
| Utah | $61,280 | 3,810 |
| Minnesota | $61,140 | 12,500 |
| Louisiana | $61,110 | 4,640 |
| Arizona | $61,080 | 4,330 |
| Montana | $60,920 | 630 |
| New York | $60,920 | 9,400 |
| Colorado | $60,200 | 2,800 |
| Maryland | $59,810 | 1,380 |
| New Mexico | $59,440 | 690 |
| Texas | $59,180 | 21,700 |
| Maine | $59,160 | 1,780 |
| Wisconsin | $59,110 | 12,700 |
| Idaho | $58,810 | 1,070 |
| Missouri | $58,710 | 8,380 |
| Kentucky | $58,660 | 6,040 |
| Illinois | $58,520 | 16,520 |
| South Carolina | $57,970 | 3,790 |
| Ohio | $57,940 | 17,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,810 | 12,380 |
| Indiana | $57,800 | 14,320 |
| Rhode Island | $57,760 | 860 |
| Iowa | $57,540 | 2,880 |
| California | $57,190 | 18,950 |
| Florida | $57,140 | 8,400 |
| Nebraska | $55,860 | 1,810 |
| Alabama | $55,560 | 5,170 |
| Mississippi | $55,550 | 1,920 |
| North Carolina | $55,230 | 8,330 |
| Nevada | $53,050 | 900 |
| Georgia | $52,610 | 6,090 |
| Michigan | $52,360 | 20,350 |
| Kansas | $51,220 | 3,870 |
| Arkansas | $51,140 | 2,150 |
| Oklahoma | $51,120 | 4,230 |
| South Dakota | $50,890 | 830 |
| Tennessee | $49,600 | 8,270 |
| West Virginia | $47,350 | 1,700 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Machinists
Machinists (BLS SOC 51-4041) set up and operate machine tools to produce precision metal parts for manufacturing. The role spans CNC programming, lathe and mill operation, and precision inspection. Most enter through 4-year apprenticeships or 2-year associate programs. Aerospace, defense, medical-device, and high-precision contract machining typically pay well above the OEWS median; production machining in commodity manufacturing falls closer to the median or below.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $39,200 – $80,010. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Hawaii, Alaska and D.C.. Pay in Hawaii runs 1.8 times the level in West Virginia, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as high school diploma or equivalent, and projects about 26,100 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 1% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Machinist salary in the US?
How much does a Machinist make an hour?
How much do Machinists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Machinists the most?
Is the average Machinist salary higher than the median?
Is Machinist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Machinist roles hiring now
Browse current Machinist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 51-4041. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.