Machinist salary

The median pay for a machinist nationally is $30.00 an hour — about $62,400 a year full time. That is based on 18 job postings on LocalWork from the last 12 months that stated pay, so it reflects what employers are advertising rather than verified earnings. Half of the roles pay more than this and half pay less, so treat it as the middle of the market rather than a target.

Most machinists nationally earn between $26.75 an hour and $39.35 an hour — that is the 10th to the 90th percentile. The spread usually reflects experience, shift, certifications and employer size more than anything else.

Pay at the bottom of the range — roughly what someone starting out can expect — is around $26.75 an hour. A quarter of machinists earn below $29.63 an hour, so the first year or two typically sits in that band.

The top 10% of machinists nationally earn about $39.35 an hour or more, roughly 1.3× the median. Getting there usually means experience plus something specific — certifications, supervisory duties, specialised skills or premium shifts.

Machinists produce precision metal parts using manual and CNC machine tools, working to tight tolerances from engineering drawings. Day to day, that means set up and operate CNC and manual machines, read engineering drawings and GD&T, programme or edit CNC toolpaths and inspect parts with precision instruments.

The usual route is: (1) start as a machine operator, (2) learn setup and programming, (3) earn NIMS or equivalent certification, (4) move into programming, prototyping or aerospace work. Employers typically look for apprenticeship or technical programme, CNC programming knowledge for higher-paid roles and precision measurement competence.

Usually not. Most employers hire machinists without a specific licence, though NIMS certification valued will widen your options and often your pay.

There are currently 28 open machinists listed on LocalWork. Skilled CNC machinists remain in short supply in manufacturing regions, and aerospace and medical work pays a premium.