Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Machinists (SOC 51-4041) employed 287,050 people in May 2025. The median pay is $58,750 a year ($28.24 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,200 and the highest-paid 10% more than $80,010. BLS projects its employment to change by +1.0% between 2025 and 2035 (about 26,100 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: Hawaii ($84,410), Alaska ($77,670), District of Columbia ($72,900). Most jobs: Texas (21,700), Michigan (20,350), California (18,950).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| 25th percentile | $47,570 | $22.87 |
| Median | $58,750 | $28.24 |
| Mean | $59,320 | $28.52 |
| 75th percentile | $67,700 | $32.55 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $80,010 | $38.47 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 288,300 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 291,200 |
| Change in jobs | 3,000 |
| Percent change | +1.0% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 26,100 |
| Self-employed share | 0.5% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5,170 | 1.33 | $55,560 | $37,770 | $79,380 | -5% | 23% |
| Alaska | 120 | 0.20 | $77,670 | $50,900 | $105,540 | +32% | 22% |
| Arizona | 4,330 | 0.72 | $61,080 | $40,290 | $76,610 | +4% | 33% |
| Arkansas | 2,150 | 0.89 | $51,140 | $37,760 | $78,400 | -13% | 23% |
| California | 18,950 | 0.56 | $57,190 | $37,440 | $88,280 | -3% | 44% |
| Colorado | 2,800 | 0.53 | $60,200 | $44,650 | $84,510 | +2% | 36% |
| Connecticut | 5,240 | 1.67 | $62,130 | $43,900 | $82,630 | +6% | 30% |
| Delaware | 310 | 0.34 | $62,650 | $41,710 | $95,660 | +7% | 29% |
| District of Columbia | 160 | 0.12 | $72,900 | $56,570 | $98,850 | +24% | 32% |
| Florida | 8,400 | 0.46 | $57,140 | $39,870 | $76,220 | -3% | 38% |
| Georgia | 6,090 | 0.68 | $52,610 | $37,060 | $77,420 | -10% | 34% |
| Hawaii | 260 | 0.22 | $84,410 | $55,950 | $106,970 | +44% | 28% |
| Idaho | 1,070 | 0.68 | $58,810 | $38,450 | $81,920 | +0% | 28% |
| Illinois | 16,520 | 1.47 | $58,520 | $38,390 | $78,290 | -0% | 27% |
| Indiana | 14,320 | 2.42 | $57,800 | $39,400 | $73,500 | -2% | 23% |
| Iowa | 2,880 | 1.00 | $57,540 | $44,500 | $71,160 | -2% | 20% |
| Kansas | 3,870 | 1.46 | $51,220 | $38,240 | $74,920 | -13% | 25% |
| Kentucky | 6,040 | 1.64 | $58,660 | $39,070 | $78,020 | -0% | 20% |
| Louisiana | 4,640 | 1.30 | $61,110 | $39,930 | $84,930 | +4% | 21% |
| Maine | 1,780 | 1.50 | $59,160 | $45,760 | $78,380 | +1% | 25% |
| Maryland | 1,380 | 0.27 | $59,810 | $42,950 | $81,880 | +2% | 35% |
| Massachusetts | 7,080 | 1.05 | $67,270 | $47,910 | $93,330 | +15% | 33% |
| Michigan | 20,350 | 2.50 | $52,360 | $38,370 | $75,330 | -11% | 27% |
| Minnesota | 12,500 | 2.29 | $61,140 | $46,550 | $80,380 | +4% | 25% |
| Mississippi | 1,920 | 0.89 | $55,550 | $34,570 | $76,670 | -5% | 21% |
| Missouri | 8,380 | 1.55 | $58,710 | $44,120 | $84,150 | -0% | 22% |
| Montana | 630 | 0.67 | $60,920 | $37,940 | $81,810 | +4% | 23% |
| Nebraska | 1,810 | 0.96 | $55,860 | $39,770 | $88,130 | -5% | 24% |
| Nevada | 900 | 0.31 | $53,050 | $39,420 | $77,290 | -10% | 39% |
| New Hampshire | 1,620 | 1.29 | $61,500 | $44,720 | $84,080 | +5% | 30% |
| New Jersey | 3,210 | 0.41 | $63,190 | $46,170 | $90,740 | +8% | 34% |
| New Mexico | 690 | 0.43 | $59,440 | $39,250 | $90,170 | +1% | 23% |
| New York | 9,400 | 0.53 | $60,920 | $40,560 | $84,440 | +4% | 32% |
| North Carolina | 8,330 | 0.91 | $55,230 | $37,110 | $75,570 | -6% | 29% |
| North Dakota | 560 | 0.71 | $61,820 | $47,810 | $80,030 | +5% | 19% |
| Ohio | 17,110 | 1.67 | $57,940 | $38,070 | $76,530 | -1% | 23% |
| Oklahoma | 4,230 | 1.34 | $51,120 | $36,380 | $70,870 | -13% | 25% |
| Oregon | 2,760 | 0.76 | $63,820 | $47,040 | $86,580 | +9% | 30% |
| Pennsylvania | 12,380 | 1.11 | $57,810 | $39,620 | $77,090 | -2% | 26% |
| Rhode Island | 860 | 0.93 | $57,760 | $39,720 | $82,400 | -2% | 29% |
| South Carolina | 3,790 | 0.89 | $57,970 | $38,270 | $75,650 | -1% | 26% |
| South Dakota | 830 | 0.98 | $50,890 | $39,280 | $60,840 | -13% | 24% |
| Tennessee | 8,270 | 1.37 | $49,600 | $37,560 | $70,430 | -16% | 31% |
| Texas | 21,700 | 0.84 | $59,180 | $38,600 | $83,070 | +1% | 30% |
| Utah | 3,810 | 1.19 | $61,280 | $43,160 | $80,110 | +4% | 31% |
| Vermont | 220 | 0.40 | $62,680 | $40,670 | $95,690 | +7% | 25% |
| Virginia | 5,660 | 0.75 | $61,290 | $45,120 | $86,380 | +4% | 32% |
| Washington | 6,880 | 1.05 | $66,160 | $48,360 | $101,110 | +13% | 33% |
| West Virginia | 1,700 | 1.31 | $47,350 | $37,300 | $71,980 | -19% | 22% |
| Wisconsin | 12,700 | 2.34 | $59,110 | $40,600 | $76,280 | +1% | 23% |
| Wyoming | 290 | 0.55 | $63,070 | $37,430 | $91,650 | +7% | 19% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 370 | $80,620 | $53,770 | $101,900 | 2.11 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 4,250 | $74,560 | $49,360 | $110,790 | 1.10 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 4,870 | $72,060 | $48,400 | $93,600 | 0.98 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 300 | $71,590 | $42,790 | $100,140 | 0.85 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 330 | $69,440 | $47,550 | $78,220 | 1.43 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 620 | $68,850 | $48,820 | $113,750 | 0.11 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,610 | $67,750 | $45,850 | $125,980 | 0.37 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 870 | $67,700 | $45,930 | $87,200 | 1.15 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | 370 | $67,140 | $44,070 | $100,820 | 0.86 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 550 | $66,990 | $44,340 | $103,160 | 0.67 |
| Ogden, UT | 1,260 | $65,270 | $43,890 | $79,210 | 2.51 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 1,100 | $65,200 | $50,540 | $80,250 | 2.06 |
| Worcester, MA | 930 | $64,480 | $46,790 | $82,270 | 1.45 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 2,680 | $64,320 | $44,220 | $85,380 | 2.42 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2,090 | $64,170 | $48,900 | $83,480 | 0.94 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 580 | $63,970 | $47,630 | $93,580 | 0.70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,370 | $63,540 | $44,350 | $97,750 | 0.66 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | 420 | $63,330 | $47,760 | $63,470 | 1.45 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 500 | $63,100 | $45,270 | $96,230 | 0.67 |
| Springfield, MA | 920 | $63,090 | $45,670 | $79,940 | 2.48 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 2,350 | $62,900 | $48,880 | $76,540 | 1.67 |
| Flint, MI | 350 | $62,850 | $39,490 | $80,120 | 1.41 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,300 | $62,750 | $44,930 | $92,460 | 0.25 |
| Richmond, VA | 650 | $62,650 | $46,890 | $95,800 | 0.53 |
| Huntsville, AL | 670 | $62,490 | $44,920 | $85,460 | 1.36 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 460 | $62,230 | $48,280 | $77,340 | 2.42 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 720 | $62,220 | $41,060 | $75,610 | 3.81 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 5,620 | $62,210 | $47,230 | $89,950 | 2.27 |
| Toledo, OH | 1,140 | $62,190 | $37,280 | $80,170 | 2.12 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 9,420 | $62,070 | $47,500 | $80,430 | 2.61 |
| Mobile, AL | 380 | $62,020 | $38,710 | $77,800 | 1.18 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | 430 | $61,890 | $42,630 | $82,460 | 0.76 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 600 | $61,710 | $41,850 | $80,500 | 1.79 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,210 | $61,640 | $44,670 | $80,790 | 0.79 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 480 | $61,500 | $47,460 | $76,950 | 1.55 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 570 | $61,430 | $39,940 | $72,020 | 0.42 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,180 | $61,420 | $40,300 | $86,970 | 0.77 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 8,140 | $61,280 | $39,960 | $81,470 | 1.34 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,330 | $61,280 | $43,480 | $81,020 | 0.62 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,230 | $61,270 | $40,800 | $76,090 | 0.74 |
| Columbus, IN | 1,470 | $61,230 | $48,640 | $74,720 | 15.95 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 480 | $61,140 | $44,440 | $90,390 | 2.69 |
| Madison, WI | 700 | $60,830 | $41,060 | $85,350 | 0.93 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,170 | $60,700 | $45,090 | $84,460 | 0.42 |
| Savannah, GA | 330 | $60,680 | $41,770 | $79,380 | 0.91 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 1,460 | $60,650 | $40,210 | $80,400 | 1.48 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,050 | $60,620 | $46,810 | $84,510 | 0.35 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 990 | $60,500 | $40,780 | $79,570 | 0.78 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 520 | $60,480 | $45,290 | $79,210 | 1.10 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 340 | $60,440 | $38,180 | $80,600 | 1.14 |
| Boise City, ID | 440 | $60,430 | $39,140 | $88,890 | 0.60 |
| Appleton, WI | 660 | $60,350 | $39,730 | $76,850 | 2.88 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 4,230 | $60,320 | $44,190 | $78,560 | 2.79 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 750 | $60,280 | $43,380 | $82,490 | 0.30 |
| Green Bay, WI | 660 | $60,270 | $44,650 | $74,840 | 2.03 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,390 | $60,210 | $39,880 | $76,080 | 0.95 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 340 | $60,120 | $43,870 | $80,160 | 0.93 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 340 | $60,070 | $44,880 | $73,700 | 1.97 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 420 | $60,060 | $42,640 | $74,700 | 1.36 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 750 | $59,850 | $40,280 | $78,650 | 1.87 |
The median is $58,750 a year ($28.24 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $39,200 and the highest-paid tenth over $80,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
287,050 in May 2025, and BLS projects +1.0% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
Hawaii, with a median of $84,410 (among states with published figures).