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The average salary for a machine builder in the United States stands at $39,658 annually. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which one works. For instance, machine builders in specialized manufacturing sectors often see higher wages.
Entry-level positions typically offer salaries around $30,000, while experienced builders can earn upwards of $50,000 or more, especially in high-demand areas. It's essential to consider the cost of living in different locations, as this can greatly influence salary expectations.
States like California, Texas, and New York frequently provide higher salaries for machine builders due to the concentration of manufacturing jobs and the cost of living. Additionally, industries such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing typically offer the highest compensation packages.
Various salary estimates for machine builders indicate that the figures can range from $35,000 to $45,000 depending on the source. Websites like Glassdoor and Indeed provide valuable insights into current salary trends and job postings, making them useful resources for job seekers.
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The average machine builder salary in Rhode Island, Hawaii, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average machine builder salary states are New Hampshire, Virginia, and Oregon.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $42,522 | $20.44 |
| 2 | Indiana | $41,712 | $20.05 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $42,480 | $20.42 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $47,588 | $22.88 |
| 5 | Michigan | $42,453 | $20.41 |
| 6 | Ohio | $39,051 | $18.77 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $39,834 | $19.15 |
| 8 | Illinois | $41,152 | $19.78 |
| 9 | Kansas | $40,389 | $19.42 |
| 10 | Alabama | $40,338 | $19.39 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $42,686 | $20.52 |
| 12 | Wisconsin | $38,669 | $18.59 |
| 13 | Georgia | $39,261 | $18.88 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $43,960 | $21.13 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $38,588 | $18.55 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $38,441 | $18.48 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $38,678 | $18.60 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $47,999 | $23.08 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $40,146 | $19.30 |
| 20 | Louisiana | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| 21 | Maine | $38,714 | $18.61 |
| 22 | Idaho | $40,294 | $19.37 |
| 23 | Montana | $40,401 | $19.42 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $38,932 | $18.72 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| 26 | Maryland | $41,204 | $19.81 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $35,152 | $16.90 |
| 28 | California | $40,320 | $19.38 |
| 29 | Utah | $36,110 | $17.36 |
| 30 | Alaska | $38,351 | $18.44 |
| 31 | Missouri | $35,921 | $17.27 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $36,739 | $17.66 |
| 33 | New York | $39,001 | $18.75 |
| 34 | West Virginia | $36,081 | $17.35 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $33,576 | $16.14 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $35,143 | $16.90 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $34,747 | $16.71 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $33,834 | $16.27 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $34,961 | $16.81 |
| 40 | Texas | $35,458 | $17.05 |
| 41 | Nevada | $35,582 | $17.11 |
| 42 | Vermont | $34,898 | $16.78 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $35,879 | $17.25 |
| 44 | Colorado | $35,636 | $17.13 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $35,374 | $17.01 |
| 46 | Delaware | $34,738 | $16.70 |
| 47 | Oregon | $31,133 | $14.97 |
| 48 | Arizona | $30,854 | $14.83 |
| 49 | Virginia | $32,314 | $15.54 |
| 50 | Florida | $29,614 | $14.24 |
| 51 | Washington | $30,511 | $14.67 |
The highest-paying cities for machine builders are Cedar Falls, IA, Ann Arbor, MI, and Chaska, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Falls, IA | $42,635 | $20.50 |
| 2 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,532 | $20.45 |
| 3 | Chaska, MN | $42,475 | $20.42 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $41,207 | $19.81 |
| 5 | Culver City, CA | $40,403 | $19.42 |
| 6 | Warren, OH | $39,331 | $18.91 |
| 7 | Greenville, SC | $38,905 | $18.70 |
| 8 | Green Bay, WI | $38,499 | $18.51 |
| 9 | Rochester, NY | $38,134 | $18.33 |
| 10 | Middletown, CT | $36,687 | $17.64 |
| 11 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,589 | $17.11 |
| 12 | Knoxville, TN | $35,060 | $16.86 |
| 13 | Charlotte, NC | $33,710 | $16.21 |
| 14 | Sarasota, FL | $29,715 | $14.29 |
A machine builder's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $49,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 75th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| Average | $39,658 | $3,305 | $19 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
The highest paying types of machine builders are bearing ring assembler, automobile engine assembler, and air-conditioning coil assembler.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembling Machine Operator | $31,275 | $2,606 | $15.04 | 87,253 |
| Builder | $33,117 | $2,760 | $15.92 | 4,074 |
| Machine Operator | $32,874 | $2,740 | $15.80 | 96,834 |
Top companies hiring machine builders now:
Machine builder salaries at Corning Incorporated and Barry-Wehmiller are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average machine builder salary at companies like Koch Industries and Mestek are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corning Incorporated | $45,550 | $21.90 |
| 2 | Barry-Wehmiller | $43,679 | $21.00 |
| 3 | Koch Industries | $42,533 | $20.45 |
| 4 | Mestek | $42,081 | $20.23 |
| 5 | Allied Moulded Products | $41,811 | $20.10 |
| 6 | Snap-on Tools | $40,715 | $19.57 |
| 7 | L3Harris | $40,653 | $19.54 |
| 8 | GED | $40,130 | $19.29 |
| 9 | Bradley-Morris | $39,889 | $19.18 |
| 10 | Kelly Services | $39,704 | $19.09 |
| 11 | Oetiker Group | $39,307 | $18.90 |
| 12 | Spark Talent Acquisition | $39,301 | $18.89 |
| 13 | ManpowerGroup | $39,276 | $18.88 |
| 14 | Koops Automation Systems | $39,258 | $18.87 |
| 15 | The Wood Company | $39,256 | $18.87 |
| 16 | TOX Pressotechnik | $39,256 | $18.87 |
| 17 | North Metro Fire | $39,256 | $18.87 |
| 18 | Venteon | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| 19 | Evoqua Water Technologies | $39,214 | $18.85 |
| 20 | ITW | $39,142 | $18.82 |
The average machine builder salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $40,134 | $19.30 |
| 2 | Technology | $39,223 | $18.86 |
| 3 | Transportation | $38,877 | $18.69 |
| 4 | Professional | $38,729 | $18.62 |
The average machine builder salary has risen by $8,102 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average machine builder earned $31,556 annually, but today, they earn $39,658 a year. That works out to a 11% change in pay for machine builders over the last decade.
Compare machine builder salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare machine builder salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $39,700 | $19.07 | +0.2% |
| 2024 | $39,600 | $19.02 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $38,500 | $18.49 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $37,600 | $18.07 | +5.0% |
| 2021 | $35,700 | $17.17 | +3.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeywell | Electronic Machine Builder-5Th Shift | Minneapolis, MN | 06/29/2025 | $64,551 |
| Aerotek | Machine Builder | Portland, CT | 06/27/2025 | $53,198 |
| Actalent | Machine Builder | Anna, OH | 06/27/2025 | $50,088 |
| Xylem | Machine Builder(2Nd Shift) | Holland, MI | 06/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Cardinal Staffing Services | Machine Builder | Shelby, MI | 06/26/2025 | $35,479 |
| Aerotek | Machine Builder | Butler, WI | 06/24/2025 | $47,840 |
| Aerotek | Machine Builder | Riverside, MO | 06/23/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Machine Builder | Alexandria, MN | 06/21/2025 | $52,175 |
| Xylem | Senior Machine Builder | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Machine Builder | Lansing, MI | 06/18/2025 | $41,600 |
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