Machinists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $58,750 | $28.24 |
| Mean (average) | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| 90th percentile | $80,010 | $38.47 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Machinists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $55,560 | $37,770 | $79,380 | 5,170 | 1.33 |
| Alaska | $77,670 | $50,900 | $105,540 | 120 | 0.2 |
| Arizona | $61,080 | $40,290 | $76,610 | 4,330 | 0.72 |
| Arkansas | $51,140 | $37,760 | $78,400 | 2,150 | 0.89 |
| California | $57,190 | $37,440 | $88,280 | 18,950 | 0.56 |
| Colorado | $60,200 | $44,650 | $84,510 | 2,800 | 0.53 |
| Connecticut | $62,130 | $43,900 | $82,630 | 5,240 | 1.67 |
| Delaware | $62,650 | $41,710 | $95,660 | 310 | 0.34 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 | $56,570 | $98,850 | 160 | 0.12 |
| Florida | $57,140 | $39,870 | $76,220 | 8,400 | 0.46 |
| Georgia | $52,610 | $37,060 | $77,420 | 6,090 | 0.68 |
| Hawaii | $84,410 | $55,950 | $106,970 | 260 | 0.22 |
| Idaho | $58,810 | $38,450 | $81,920 | 1,070 | 0.68 |
| Illinois | $58,520 | $38,390 | $78,290 | 16,520 | 1.47 |
| Indiana | $57,800 | $39,400 | $73,500 | 14,320 | 2.42 |
| Iowa | $57,540 | $44,500 | $71,160 | 2,880 | 1 |
| Kansas | $51,220 | $38,240 | $74,920 | 3,870 | 1.46 |
| Kentucky | $58,660 | $39,070 | $78,020 | 6,040 | 1.64 |
| Louisiana | $61,110 | $39,930 | $84,930 | 4,640 | 1.3 |
| Maine | $59,160 | $45,760 | $78,380 | 1,780 | 1.5 |
| Maryland | $59,810 | $42,950 | $81,880 | 1,380 | 0.27 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 | $47,910 | $93,330 | 7,080 | 1.05 |
| Michigan | $52,360 | $38,370 | $75,330 | 20,350 | 2.5 |
| Minnesota | $61,140 | $46,550 | $80,380 | 12,500 | 2.29 |
| Mississippi | $55,550 | $34,570 | $76,670 | 1,920 | 0.89 |
| Missouri | $58,710 | $44,120 | $84,150 | 8,380 | 1.55 |
| Montana | $60,920 | $37,940 | $81,810 | 630 | 0.67 |
| Nebraska | $55,860 | $39,770 | $88,130 | 1,810 | 0.96 |
| Nevada | $53,050 | $39,420 | $77,290 | 900 | 0.31 |
| New Hampshire | $61,500 | $44,720 | $84,080 | 1,620 | 1.29 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 | $46,170 | $90,740 | 3,210 | 0.41 |
| New Mexico | $59,440 | $39,250 | $90,170 | 690 | 0.43 |
| New York | $60,920 | $40,560 | $84,440 | 9,400 | 0.53 |
| North Carolina | $55,230 | $37,110 | $75,570 | 8,330 | 0.91 |
| North Dakota | $61,820 | $47,810 | $80,030 | 560 | 0.71 |
| Ohio | $57,940 | $38,070 | $76,530 | 17,110 | 1.67 |
| Oklahoma | $51,120 | $36,380 | $70,870 | 4,230 | 1.34 |
| Oregon | $63,820 | $47,040 | $86,580 | 2,760 | 0.76 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,810 | $39,620 | $77,090 | 12,380 | 1.11 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,280 | $22,860 | $50,440 | 1,250 | 0.72 |
| Rhode Island | $57,760 | $39,720 | $82,400 | 860 | 0.93 |
| South Carolina | $57,970 | $38,270 | $75,650 | 3,790 | 0.89 |
| South Dakota | $50,890 | $39,280 | $60,840 | 830 | 0.98 |
| Tennessee | $49,600 | $37,560 | $70,430 | 8,270 | 1.37 |
| Texas | $59,180 | $38,600 | $83,070 | 21,700 | 0.84 |
| Utah | $61,280 | $43,160 | $80,110 | 3,810 | 1.19 |
| Vermont | $62,680 | $40,670 | $95,690 | 220 | 0.4 |
| Virginia | $61,290 | $45,120 | $86,380 | 5,660 | 0.75 |
| Washington | $66,160 | $48,360 | $101,110 | 6,880 | 1.05 |
| West Virginia | $47,350 | $37,300 | $71,980 | 1,700 | 1.31 |
| Wisconsin | $59,110 | $40,600 | $76,280 | 12,700 | 2.34 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 | $37,430 | $91,650 | 290 | 0.55 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for machinists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 26,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for machinists
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Machine Tool Technology/Machinist CIP 48.0501
- Machine Shop Technology/Assistant CIP 48.0503
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments, such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
- Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
- 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.
- Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
- Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.
- Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
- Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
Technology skills
- G-code (in demand)
- Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- 3D Printing software
- Armchair Machinist software
- Autodesk Fusion 360
- Autodesk HSMWorks
- CNC Consulting Machinists' Calculator
- CNC Mastercam
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis.
Common job titles: CNC Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Machinist), CNC Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Machinist), Gear Machinist, Machine Repair Person, Machinist, Maintenance Machinist, Manual Lathe Machinist, Production Machinist, Tool Room Machinist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do machinists make?
The national median annual wage for machinists was $58,750 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $39,200 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $80,010. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do machinists need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is machinists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of machinists to change +1.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 26,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay machinists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($84,410), Alaska ($77,670), District of Columbia ($72,900). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.