Machinists
Machinists (SOC 51-4041) earn a median $58,750 a year ($28.24 an hour) in the United States, with 287,050 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What machinists do
Machinists make precision metal parts and instruments by setting up and running machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, grinders, and computer numerically controlled equipment. The work starts with blueprints, drawings, or sample parts, from which the machinist figures out dimensions, tolerances, and the order of operations. They then select tooling, mount stock, and produce the part, measuring it repeatedly with micrometers and vernier calipers to confirm it meets specifications. Some machinists program numerically controlled machine tools, though those who mainly program or operate CNC equipment are classified separately as computer numerically controlled tool operators and programmers. Beyond production, some make or modify parts to repair machine tools, maintain industrial machinery, or fabricate mechanical instruments. The job requires general knowledge of metals and mathematics, so it is broader than the machine-specific setter and operator occupations. Tool and die makers, who build the dies and fixtures used in production, are counted separately.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, a high school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education reported by workers in this occupation.
Also called: Aircraft Machinist, Auto Machinist (Automotive Machinist), Carbide Operator, CNC Lathe Machinist (Computer Numeric Controlled Lathe Machinist), CNC Lathe Machinist (Computer Numerically Controlled Lathe Machinist).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.85 | $22.87 | $28.24 | $32.55 | $38.47 | $28.52 | 287,050 |
| Annual | $39,200 | $47,570 | $58,750 | $67,700 | $80,010 | $59,320 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where machinists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $26.90 | $30.47 | $40.58 | $44.59 | $51.43 | $39.24 | 260 | 0.41 | 0.22 |
| Annual | $55,950 | $63,380 | $84,410 | $92,750 | $106,970 | $81,610 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $24.47 | $30.46 | $37.34 | $46.46 | $50.74 | $39.02 | 120 | 0.37 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $50,900 | $63,360 | $77,670 | $96,640 | $105,540 | $81,160 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $27.20 | $27.20 | $35.05 | $35.05 | $47.52 | $35.22 | 160 | 0.22 | 0.12 |
| Annual | $56,570 | $56,570 | $72,900 | $72,900 | $98,850 | $73,260 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $23.04 | $27.73 | $32.34 | $37.81 | $44.87 | $33.36 | 7,080 | 1.95 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $47,910 | $57,690 | $67,270 | $78,640 | $93,330 | $69,390 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $23.25 | $28.25 | $31.81 | $38.62 | $48.61 | $34.38 | 6,880 | 1.94 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $48,360 | $58,760 | $66,160 | $80,340 | $101,110 | $71,510 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $18.56 | $22.90 | $28.45 | $33.56 | $39.94 | $28.98 | 21,700 | 1.54 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $38,600 | $47,630 | $59,180 | $69,800 | $83,070 | $60,270 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $18.45 | $22.24 | $25.17 | $29.95 | $36.22 | $26.56 | 20,350 | 4.62 | 2.50 |
| Annual | $38,370 | $46,260 | $52,360 | $62,300 | $75,330 | $55,240 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.00 | $22.29 | $27.49 | $35.68 | $42.44 | $29.51 | 18,950 | 1.04 | 0.56 |
| Annual | $37,440 | $46,360 | $57,190 | $74,210 | $88,280 | $61,380 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $18.30 | $22.34 | $27.86 | $30.79 | $36.79 | $27.25 | 17,110 | 3.08 | 1.67 |
| Annual | $38,070 | $46,460 | $57,940 | $64,050 | $76,530 | $56,670 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $18.46 | $22.30 | $28.13 | $31.55 | $37.64 | $28.33 | 16,520 | 2.71 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $38,390 | $46,380 | $58,520 | $65,620 | $78,290 | $58,920 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $26.90 | $30.47 | $40.58 | $44.59 | $50.43 | $39.01 | 250 | 0.56 | 0.30 |
| Annual | $55,950 | $63,380 | $84,410 | $92,750 | $104,900 | $81,140 | ||||
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | Hourly | $16.86 | $22.60 | $39.76 | $50.66 | $50.66 | $37.22 | 160 | 2.94 | 1.59 |
| Annual | $35,060 | $47,020 | $82,690 | $105,370 | $105,370 | $77,420 | ||||
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | Hourly | $25.85 | $29.11 | $38.76 | $45.94 | $48.99 | $38.33 | 370 | 3.90 | 2.11 |
| Annual | $53,770 | $60,550 | $80,620 | $95,560 | $101,900 | $79,720 | ||||
| Barnstable Town, MA | Hourly | $24.00 | $30.56 | $37.33 | $45.01 | $46.78 | $37.40 | 30 | 0.37 | 0.20 |
| Annual | $49,920 | $63,570 | $77,650 | $93,620 | $97,300 | $77,800 | ||||
| Lake Charles, LA | Hourly | $22.51 | $28.14 | $36.34 | $39.93 | $52.05 | $35.43 | 280 | 2.79 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $46,830 | $58,530 | $75,580 | $83,060 | $108,260 | $73,690 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $18.60 | $22.97 | $28.62 | $32.82 | $37.98 | $29.09 | 11,270 | 2.50 | 1.35 |
| Annual | $38,680 | $47,770 | $59,520 | $68,260 | $78,990 | $60,510 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $22.84 | $24.55 | $29.84 | $36.30 | $38.67 | $30.29 | 9,420 | 4.83 | 2.61 |
| Annual | $47,500 | $51,060 | $62,070 | $75,500 | $80,430 | $63,000 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $19.21 | $23.79 | $29.46 | $34.51 | $39.17 | $30.03 | 8,140 | 2.47 | 1.34 |
| Annual | $39,960 | $49,480 | $61,280 | $71,770 | $81,470 | $62,470 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.78 | $21.15 | $26.76 | $31.66 | $38.61 | $27.47 | 7,850 | 1.25 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $36,980 | $44,000 | $55,660 | $65,850 | $80,320 | $57,130 | ||||
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | Hourly | $18.58 | $23.01 | $28.51 | $31.04 | $37.85 | $27.98 | 7,680 | 4.03 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $38,650 | $47,850 | $59,310 | $64,560 | $78,730 | $58,190 | ||||
Top industries employing machinists
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing employ 26.9% of machinists nationally (77,100 jobs) at a median $55,660 a year ($26.76 an hour), followed by Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) (9.9%) and Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (7.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing NAICS 332700 | 77,100 | 26.9% | $55,660 | $26.76 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) NAICS 3330A1 | 28,550 | 9.9% | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing NAICS 333500 | 21,200 | 7.4% | $57,980 | $27.88 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336400 | 19,950 | 7.0% | $64,140 | $30.84 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) NAICS 3320A1 | 16,400 | 5.7% | $51,850 | $24.93 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (287,050). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $47,730 for machinists in May 2021 and $58,750 in May 2025, with employment of 333,220 and 287,050.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $47,730 | $22.95 | 333,220 |
| May 2022 | $48,510 | $23.32 | 316,860 |
| May 2023 | $50,840 | $24.44 | 290,720 |
| May 2024 | $56,150 | $27.00 | 298,790 |
| May 2025 | $58,750 | $28.24 | 287,050 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $40.58 | $84,410 | $55,950 | $106,970 | 260 | 0.41 | 0.22 |
| 2 | Alaska profile | $37.34 | $77,670 | $50,900 | $105,540 | 120 | 0.37 | 0.20 |
| 3 | District of Columbia profile | $35.05 | $72,900 | $56,570 | $98,850 | 160 | 0.22 | 0.12 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $32.34 | $67,270 | $47,910 | $93,330 | 7,080 | 1.95 | 1.05 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $31.81 | $66,160 | $48,360 | $101,110 | 6,880 | 1.94 | 1.05 |
| 6 | Oregon profile | $30.68 | $63,820 | $47,040 | $86,580 | 2,760 | 1.40 | 0.76 |
| 7 | New Jersey profile | $30.38 | $63,190 | $46,170 | $90,740 | 3,210 | 0.75 | 0.41 |
| 8 | Wyoming profile | $30.32 | $63,070 | $37,430 | $91,650 | 290 | 1.02 | 0.55 |
| 9 | Vermont profile | $30.14 | $62,680 | $40,670 | $95,690 | 220 | 0.74 | 0.40 |
| 10 | Delaware profile | $30.12 | $62,650 | $41,710 | $95,660 | 310 | 0.63 | 0.34 |
| 11 | Connecticut profile | $29.87 | $62,130 | $43,900 | $82,630 | 5,240 | 3.09 | 1.67 |
| 12 | North Dakota profile | $29.72 | $61,820 | $47,810 | $80,030 | 560 | 1.31 | 0.71 |
| 13 | New Hampshire profile | $29.57 | $61,500 | $44,720 | $84,080 | 1,620 | 2.38 | 1.29 |
| 14 | Virginia profile | $29.47 | $61,290 | $45,120 | $86,380 | 5,660 | 1.38 | 0.75 |
| 15 | Utah profile | $29.46 | $61,280 | $43,160 | $80,110 | 3,810 | 2.20 | 1.19 |
| 16 | Minnesota profile | $29.39 | $61,140 | $46,550 | $80,380 | 12,500 | 4.24 | 2.29 |
| 17 | Louisiana profile | $29.38 | $61,110 | $39,930 | $84,930 | 4,640 | 2.40 | 1.30 |
| 18 | Arizona profile | $29.37 | $61,080 | $40,290 | $76,610 | 4,330 | 1.34 | 0.72 |
| 19 | Montana profile | $29.29 | $60,920 | $37,940 | $81,810 | 630 | 1.23 | 0.67 |
| 20 | New York profile | $29.29 | $60,920 | $40,560 | $84,440 | 9,400 | 0.97 | 0.53 |
| 21 | Colorado profile | $28.94 | $60,200 | $44,650 | $84,510 | 2,800 | 0.97 | 0.53 |
| 22 | Maryland profile | $28.76 | $59,810 | $42,950 | $81,880 | 1,380 | 0.50 | 0.27 |
| 23 | New Mexico profile | $28.58 | $59,440 | $39,250 | $90,170 | 690 | 0.79 | 0.43 |
| 24 | Texas profile | $28.45 | $59,180 | $38,600 | $83,070 | 21,700 | 1.54 | 0.84 |
| 25 | Maine profile | $28.44 | $59,160 | $45,760 | $78,380 | 1,780 | 2.78 | 1.50 |
| 26 | Wisconsin profile | $28.42 | $59,110 | $40,600 | $76,280 | 12,700 | 4.32 | 2.34 |
| 27 | Idaho profile | $28.28 | $58,810 | $38,450 | $81,920 | 1,070 | 1.25 | 0.68 |
| 28 | Missouri profile | $28.23 | $58,710 | $44,120 | $84,150 | 8,380 | 2.85 | 1.55 |
| 29 | Kentucky profile | $28.20 | $58,660 | $39,070 | $78,020 | 6,040 | 3.02 | 1.64 |
| 30 | Illinois profile | $28.13 | $58,520 | $38,390 | $78,290 | 16,520 | 2.71 | 1.47 |
| 31 | South Carolina profile | $27.87 | $57,970 | $38,270 | $75,650 | 3,790 | 1.65 | 0.89 |
| 32 | Ohio profile | $27.86 | $57,940 | $38,070 | $76,530 | 17,110 | 3.08 | 1.67 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania profile | $27.79 | $57,810 | $39,620 | $77,090 | 12,380 | 2.04 | 1.11 |
| 34 | Indiana profile | $27.79 | $57,800 | $39,400 | $73,500 | 14,320 | 4.47 | 2.42 |
| 35 | Rhode Island profile | $27.77 | $57,760 | $39,720 | $82,400 | 860 | 1.72 | 0.93 |
| 36 | Iowa profile | $27.66 | $57,540 | $44,500 | $71,160 | 2,880 | 1.85 | 1.00 |
| 37 | California profile | $27.49 | $57,190 | $37,440 | $88,280 | 18,950 | 1.04 | 0.56 |
| 38 | Florida profile | $27.47 | $57,140 | $39,870 | $76,220 | 8,400 | 0.85 | 0.46 |
| 39 | Nebraska profile | $26.86 | $55,860 | $39,770 | $88,130 | 1,810 | 1.77 | 0.96 |
| 40 | Alabama profile | $26.71 | $55,560 | $37,770 | $79,380 | 5,170 | 2.45 | 1.33 |
| 41 | Mississippi profile | $26.71 | $55,550 | $34,570 | $76,670 | 1,920 | 1.65 | 0.89 |
| 42 | North Carolina profile | $26.56 | $55,230 | $37,110 | $75,570 | 8,330 | 1.69 | 0.91 |
| 43 | Nevada profile | $25.51 | $53,050 | $39,420 | $77,290 | 900 | 0.58 | 0.31 |
| 44 | Georgia profile | $25.29 | $52,610 | $37,060 | $77,420 | 6,090 | 1.25 | 0.68 |
| 45 | Michigan profile | $25.17 | $52,360 | $38,370 | $75,330 | 20,350 | 4.62 | 2.50 |
| 46 | Kansas profile | $24.63 | $51,220 | $38,240 | $74,920 | 3,870 | 2.70 | 1.46 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $24.59 | $51,140 | $37,760 | $78,400 | 2,150 | 1.65 | 0.89 |
| 48 | Oklahoma profile | $24.58 | $51,120 | $36,380 | $70,870 | 4,230 | 2.48 | 1.34 |
| 49 | South Dakota profile | $24.47 | $50,890 | $39,280 | $60,840 | 830 | 1.81 | 0.98 |
| 50 | Tennessee profile | $23.85 | $49,600 | $37,560 | $70,430 | 8,270 | 2.52 | 1.37 |
| 51 | West Virginia profile | $22.77 | $47,350 | $37,300 | $71,980 | 1,700 | 2.42 | 1.31 |
Part of Production Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 51-4041 Machinists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 51-4041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 51-4041.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.