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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Machine Shop Worker in the United States is approximately $30,548 per year, equating to $14.69 an hour. This figure can fluctuate based on factors such as experience level and geographical location. For instance, workers with several years of experience typically earn significantly more than entry-level counterparts.
Geographical location plays a critical role in salary variance. For example, machine shop workers in states with a higher cost of living or greater industrial demand often receive higher compensation. Some of the top-paying states for this occupation include:
Each state presents unique opportunities and challenges that can impact salary ranges. Additionally, specialized roles within machine shops, such as CNC operators or tool and die makers, can command even higher salaries, further enhancing career prospects in this field.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level machine shop worker | $21,700 | $10.44 |
| Mid-level machine shop worker | $24,000 | $11.53 |
| Senior-level machine shop worker | $36,200 | $17.38 |
The average machine shop worker salary in Washington, New Hampshire, and Minnesota are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average machine shop worker salary states are Virginia, Florida, and Alabama.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $34,668 | $16.67 |
| 2 | Washington | $35,036 | $16.84 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $34,562 | $16.62 |
| 4 | South Dakota | $32,272 | $15.52 |
| 5 | Missouri | $32,241 | $15.50 |
| 6 | Oregon | $33,963 | $16.33 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $33,747 | $16.22 |
| 8 | Montana | $34,547 | $16.61 |
| 9 | Nebraska | $31,776 | $15.28 |
| 10 | Utah | $32,214 | $15.49 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $31,596 | $15.19 |
| 12 | Colorado | $33,620 | $16.16 |
| 13 | Nevada | $33,608 | $16.16 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $31,989 | $15.38 |
| 15 | North Dakota | $33,504 | $16.11 |
| 16 | Louisiana | $30,915 | $14.86 |
| 17 | New Mexico | $31,679 | $15.23 |
| 18 | Vermont | $33,047 | $15.89 |
| 19 | Indiana | $31,248 | $15.02 |
| 20 | Illinois | $32,739 | $15.74 |
| 21 | Ohio | $30,623 | $14.72 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $29,184 | $14.03 |
| 23 | Maryland | $34,254 | $16.47 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $30,495 | $14.66 |
| 25 | Iowa | $30,253 | $14.54 |
| 26 | New York | $33,510 | $16.11 |
| 27 | Idaho | $30,455 | $14.64 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $32,223 | $15.49 |
| 29 | Maine | $31,242 | $15.02 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $27,869 | $13.40 |
| 31 | Michigan | $29,532 | $14.20 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $29,656 | $14.26 |
| 33 | California | $29,576 | $14.22 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $28,551 | $13.73 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $30,190 | $14.51 |
| 36 | Arizona | $30,173 | $14.51 |
| 37 | Kansas | $29,189 | $14.03 |
| 38 | New Jersey | $30,195 | $14.52 |
| 39 | Alaska | $30,020 | $14.43 |
| 40 | Georgia | $26,366 | $12.68 |
| 41 | Delaware | $28,749 | $13.82 |
| 42 | Florida | $26,148 | $12.57 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $30,973 | $14.89 |
| 44 | District of Columbia | $29,082 | $13.98 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $26,045 | $12.52 |
| 46 | Alabama | $26,124 | $12.56 |
| 47 | Texas | $26,596 | $12.79 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $27,706 | $13.32 |
| 49 | Virginia | $26,233 | $12.61 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $25,419 | $12.22 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $22,978 | $11.05 |
The highest-paying cities for machine shop workers are Bothell, WA, Fremont, CA, and Bloomington, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bothell, WA | $35,107 | $16.88 |
| 2 | Fremont, CA | $30,866 | $14.84 |
| 3 | Bloomington, IN | $30,691 | $14.76 |
| 4 | Houma, LA | $30,626 | $14.72 |
| 5 | Lancaster, PA | $30,401 | $14.62 |
| 6 | Gallatin, TN | $29,554 | $14.21 |
| 7 | Livonia, MI | $29,507 | $14.19 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $26,396 | $12.69 |
| 9 | Salem, VA | $25,891 | $12.45 |
| 10 | West Bend, WI | $25,441 | $12.23 |
A machine shop worker's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $38,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 75th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| Average | $30,548 | $2,546 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of machine shop workers are bucket operator, multi-skilled operator, and welder-machine operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production Operator | $35,185 | $2,932 | $16.92 | 117,254 |
| Bucket Operator | $41,288 | $3,441 | $19.85 | 40,119 |
| SMT Operator | $33,647 | $2,804 | $16.18 | 54,826 |
| Production Employee | $32,872 | $2,739 | $15.80 | 75,730 |
| Press Brake Operator | $36,359 | $3,030 | $17.48 | 57,264 |
| Production Line Operator | $33,261 | $2,772 | $15.99 | 155,014 |
Top companies hiring machine shop workers now:
Machine shop worker salaries at Precision Castparts and Atec, Inc. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average machine shop worker salary at companies like Neuralink IT Solutions and Weasler Engineering are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Precision Castparts | $37,442 | $18.00 |
| 2 | Atec, Inc. | $32,610 | $15.68 |
| 3 | Neuralink IT Solutions | $32,476 | $15.61 |
| 4 | Weasler Engineering | $31,832 | $15.30 |
| 5 | Area Temps | $30,366 | $14.60 |
| 6 | Express Employment Indy South | $30,173 | $14.51 |
| 7 | LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| 8 | Tradesmen International | $29,640 | $14.25 |
| 9 | ManpowerGroup | $29,177 | $14.03 |
| 10 | First Option Recruiting | $26,961 | $12.96 |
| 11 | R.M. Schulte & Associates | $26,614 | $12.80 |
The average machine shop worker salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Automotive | $33,816 | $16.26 |
| 2 | Retail | $33,425 | $16.07 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $32,232 | $15.50 |
| 4 | Agriculture | $31,516 | $15.15 |
| 5 | Construction | $30,927 | $14.87 |
| 6 | Education | $29,766 | $14.31 |
The average machine shop worker salary has risen by $4,567 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average machine shop worker earned $25,981 annually, but today, they earn $30,548 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for machine shop workers over the last decade.
Compare machine shop worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare machine shop worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,500 | $14.69 | +5.2% |
| 2024 | $29,000 | $13.93 | -1.2% |
| 2023 | $29,300 | $14.10 | +4.2% |
| 2022 | $28,100 | $13.50 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | $28,000 | $13.45 | +2.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tradesmen International | Machine Laborer | Sioux Falls, SD | 06/06/2025 | $41,740 |
| Aerotek | Machine Shop Worker | Paramount, CA | 04/26/2025 | $39,653 |
| Aerotek | Machine Laborer | Arcola, IL | 01/16/2025 | $37,566 |
| North Star Company | Machine Laborer | Gardena, CA | 01/15/2025 | $33,392 |
| Snelling-Birmingham | Machine Shop Laborer | Trussville, AL | 01/07/2025 | $41,740 |
| Keiser Corporation | General Labor-Machine Shop | Fresno, CA | 11/22/2024 | $34,436 |
| Tradesmen International, LLC | Machine Laborer | Crafton, PA | 10/04/2024 | $41,740 |
| Deploy HR-Oxnard | Machine Shop Worker | Oxnard, CA | 10/03/2024 | $35,479 |
| Peopleshare Inc. | Machine Shop | Souderton, PA | 09/26/2024 | $39,653 |
| Commercial Employees | Machine Shop Laborer | Washington, PA | 09/20/2024 | $33,392 |
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