Machinists pay in the United States

Goes furthest in Hawaii
·Production·
287k jobs
Figures from US Bureau of Labor StatisticsOccupational Employment and Wage Statistics
$28.24/hr median
287,050 employed
+1% to 2035
31% AI exposure
High school diploma or equivalent
52 states reported
and more...

What this work is

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. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

Where the money actually goes furthest

Hawaii pays the most both before and after cost of living — $84,410, worth $76,771 once local prices are counted.

Pay by state

52 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.

Adjusted for what things cost in that state.

Median pay for Machinists by state, ranked by what it is worth locally
StateHourlyAnnualWorth locallyAfter state taxJobs
Hawaii$40.58/hr$84,410$76,771$79,438260
Alaska$37.34/hr$77,670$75,879$77,670120
North Dakota$29.72/hr$61,820$69,491$61,820560
Louisiana$29.38/hr$61,110$69,277$59,6514,640
Wyoming$30.32/hr$63,070$68,044$63,070290
District of Columbia$35.05/hr$72,900$66,333$69,510160
Iowa$27.66/hr$57,540$65,565$55,9082,880
Kentucky$28.20/hr$58,660$65,062$56,4406,040
Missouri$28.23/hr$58,710$64,644$56,8078,380
New Mexico$28.58/hr$59,440$64,461$57,639690
Montana$29.29/hr$60,920$64,363$58,440630
Vermont$30.14/hr$62,680$63,985$60,480220
Mississippi$26.71/hr$55,550$63,887$53,2071,920
Massachusetts$32.34/hr$67,270$63,606$63,9067,080
Wisconsin$28.42/hr$59,110$62,816$57,07412,700
Delaware$30.12/hr$62,650$62,769$59,739310
Alabama$26.71/hr$55,560$62,553$52,9725,170
Ohio$27.86/hr$57,940$62,455$57,06317,110
Nebraska$26.86/hr$55,860$61,997$53,8641,810
Minnesota$29.39/hr$61,140$61,995$58,44512,500
Utah$29.46/hr$61,280$61,986$58,4913,810
Indiana$27.79/hr$57,800$61,930$56,09614,320
South Carolina$27.87/hr$57,970$61,834$55,9583,790
Washington$31.81/hr$66,160$61,826$66,1606,880
Oregon$30.68/hr$63,820$61,745$58,7762,760
Idaho$28.28/hr$58,810$61,587$56,4661,070
Texas$28.45/hr$59,180$60,972$59,18021,700
Maine$28.44/hr$59,160$60,958$56,4061,780
Arizona$29.37/hr$61,080$60,667$59,9184,330
Virginia$29.47/hr$61,290$60,623$58,5125,660
Connecticut$29.87/hr$62,130$59,965$59,4625,240
Pennsylvania$27.79/hr$57,810$59,249$56,03512,380
New Hampshire$29.57/hr$61,500$59,038$61,5001,620
Arkansas$24.59/hr$51,140$58,822$49,3222,150
North Carolina$26.56/hr$55,230$58,549$53,4248,330
Illinois$28.13/hr$58,520$58,543$55,76016,520
Colorado$28.94/hr$60,200$58,418$58,2622,800
Oklahoma$24.58/hr$51,120$58,196$49,1814,230
New Jersey$30.38/hr$63,190$58,073$61,1913,210
South Dakota$24.47/hr$50,890$57,444$50,890830
Maryland$28.76/hr$59,810$56,983$57,1491,380
Kansas$24.63/hr$51,220$56,866$48,6503,870
Rhode Island$27.77/hr$57,760$56,472$55,989860
New York$29.29/hr$60,920$56,449$58,1749,400
Florida$27.47/hr$57,140$55,255$57,1408,400
Georgia$25.29/hr$52,610$54,637$50,5026,090
Michigan$25.17/hr$52,360$54,416$50,37220,350
Tennessee$23.85/hr$49,600$53,989$49,6008,270
Nevada$25.51/hr$53,050$53,060$53,050900
West Virginia$22.77/hr$47,350$52,905$45,8581,700
California$27.49/hr$57,190$51,652$55,51318,950
Puerto Rico$14.08/hr$29,280Not publishedNot published1,250

National median for comparison: $58,750. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.

$58,750/year

$28.24/hr an hour, national median

Across the states

$23,600$96,640

25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state

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How much of this job could software do?

31%Low exposure
Hands, places, peopleLanguage and information

The two methods broadly agree.

Method 1 — ability mix43%

Cognitive share of O*NET ability importance (element families 1.A.1–1.A.4), O*NET 31.0

Method 2 — task content20%

Importance-weighted share of O*NET tasks classed as language or information work, O*NET 31.0

What this does and does not mean

Exposure means a model could plausibly do a meaningful share of the tasks in this job. It is not a forecast that the job disappears, and it says nothing about whether any employer will actually automate it.

For what the labour market expects, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in this occupation to change by +1% between 2025 and 2035, with about 26,100 openings a year.

Which parts are exposed

  • 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.

Amber marks language and information work. Green marks tasks that need a person in a place.

Location

San Diego, CA, United States of America (SAN-San Diego Intl.)

Photograph by EqualStock IN.