Machinists Salary
Production Occupations · 287K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$58,750
Median hourly
$28
Average annual
$59,320
Typical range
$39,200–$80,010
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Machinists is $58,750 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $28 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments.
Most earn between $39,200 and $80,010 a year. There are roughly 287K people employed as machinists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Machinists.
- Hourly
- $28.25
- Daily
- $226
- Weekly
- $1,130
- Bi-weekly
- $2,260
- Monthly
- $4,896
- Annual
- $58,750
$58,750 a year is around the 50th percentile for Machinistss. The median is $58,750.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Hawaii$84,410
- 2Alaska$77,670
- 3District of Columbia$72,900
- 4Massachusetts$67,270
- 5Washington$66,160
- 6Oregon$63,820
- 7New Jersey$63,190
- 8Wyoming$63,070
- 9Vermont$62,680
- 10Delaware$62,650
- 11Connecticut$62,130
- 12North Dakota$61,820
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Urban Honolulu, HI$84,410
- 2Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL$82,690
- 3Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$80,620
- 4Barnstable Town, MA$77,650
- 5Lake Charles, LA$75,580
- 6Anchorage, AK$75,040
- 7Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$74,560
- 8Bismarck, ND$74,090
- 9Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$72,060
- 10Flagstaff, AZ$71,620
- 11Corpus Christi, TX$71,590
- 12Albany, OR$71,300
Related job titles
Employers advertise Machinists roles under these titles.
- Aircraft Machinist
- Auto Machinist (Automotive Machinist)
- Carbide Operator
- CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist)
- Conventional Machinist
- Development Mechanic
- Electrical Experimental Mechanic
- Electrical Instrument Maker
- Electrical Machinist
- Experimental Machinist
- Fixture Maker
- Four-Slide Operator
- Gear Machinist
- Geothermal Heat Pump Machinist
- Hydroelectric Component Machinist
- Instrument Maker
Related occupations
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,690
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,800
- Tool and Die Makers$64,050
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$50,620
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,180
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$68,120
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$65,380
- Millwrights$65,700
What a Machinists does
- Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
- Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
- Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.
- Operate equipment to verify operational efficiency.
- Design fixtures, tooling, or experimental parts to meet special engineering needs.
- Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated or cooled.
- Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
- Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Machinists make?
- The median annual wage for Machinists is $58,750 ($28 per hour). Pay ranges from about $39,200 at the 10th percentile to $80,010 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Machinists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $59,320, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Machinistss the most?
- Hawaii has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $84,410.
- Is Machinists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 287K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Machinists do?
- Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.; Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.; Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products..