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Best states for a machinist
Quoted expert
Miles Free
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It seems like machinists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for machinists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for machinists. We found that New Hampshire is the best state in the nation for machinists, and people in Dartmouth earn the most in the field.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for machinists.We found that New Hampshire is the best state for machinist jobs, whereas Florida is the worst.
10 best states for machinists in 2025
1. New Hampshire
Total machinist jobs: 85 Average annual salary: $53,262 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 3.25
2. Oregon
Total machinist jobs: 126 Average annual salary: $52,972 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 2.04
3. Connecticut
Total machinist jobs: 110 Average annual salary: $51,130 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 2.22
4. Massachusetts
Total machinist jobs: 126 Average annual salary: $54,280 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 0.92
5. Pennsylvania
Total machinist jobs: 215 Average annual salary: $49,890 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
6. Rhode Island
Total machinist jobs: 23 Average annual salary: $47,846 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.27
7. Minnesota
Total machinist jobs: 194 Average annual salary: $46,429 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Location Quotient: 1.96
8. Virginia
Total machinist jobs: 142 Average annual salary: $48,917 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
9. Washington
Total machinist jobs: 68 Average annual salary: $52,151 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 0.62
10. Maine
Total machinist jobs: 29 Average annual salary: $44,130 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Location Quotient: 1.46
Machinist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a machinist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a machinist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $53,262 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 85 |
| 2 | Oregon | $52,972 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 126 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $51,130 | $32,000 | 3,588,184 | 110 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $54,280 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 126 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $49,890 | $31,000 | 12,805,537 | 215 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $47,846 | $31,000 | 1,059,639 | 23 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $46,429 | $33,000 | 5,576,606 | 194 |
| 8 | Virginia | $48,917 | $31,000 | 8,470,020 | 142 |
| 9 | Washington | $52,151 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 68 |
| 10 | Maine | $44,130 | $30,000 | 1,335,907 | 29 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $50,970 | $37,000 | 2,088,070 | 9 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $48,209 | $36,000 | 579,315 | 5 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $44,319 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 13 |
| 14 | Alabama | $42,893 | $31,000 | 4,874,747 | 72 |
| 15 | Vermont | $44,969 | $30,000 | 623,657 | 13 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $50,788 | $32,000 | 9,005,644 | 43 |
| 17 | Alaska | $52,198 | $44,000 | 739,795 | 2 |
| 18 | Nevada | $46,349 | $33,000 | 2,998,039 | 12 |
| 19 | Delaware | $49,731 | $31,000 | 961,939 | 4 |
| 20 | Ohio | $40,310 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 292 |
| 21 | Michigan | $40,092 | $27,000 | 9,962,311 | 173 |
| 22 | Maryland | $48,293 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 36 |
| 23 | Indiana | $39,959 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 128 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $42,606 | $31,000 | 4,684,333 | 24 |
| 25 | California | $45,722 | $32,000 | 39,536,653 | 375 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $39,880 | $29,000 | 2,984,100 | 42 |
| 27 | Utah | $41,735 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 37 |
| 28 | New York | $46,518 | $29,000 | 19,849,399 | 153 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $40,443 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 45 |
| 30 | Missouri | $40,950 | $30,000 | 6,113,532 | 87 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $38,533 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 228 |
| 32 | Texas | $42,144 | $30,000 | 28,304,596 | 147 |
| 33 | Arizona | $41,143 | $29,000 | 7,016,270 | 78 |
| 34 | Illinois | $40,036 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 218 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $38,276 | $28,000 | 869,666 | 19 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $37,884 | $25,000 | 1,815,857 | 24 |
| 37 | Idaho | $40,500 | $30,000 | 1,716,943 | 17 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $39,245 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 131 |
| 39 | Kansas | $38,160 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 46 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $37,419 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 44 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $43,984 | $28,000 | 693,972 | 3 |
| 42 | Colorado | $39,755 | $29,000 | 5,607,154 | 63 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $37,462 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 66 |
| 44 | Montana | $36,980 | $28,000 | 1,050,493 | 16 |
| 45 | Iowa | $35,340 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 76 |
| 46 | Georgia | $38,973 | $27,000 | 10,429,379 | 107 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $37,631 | $27,000 | 3,004,279 | 26 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $41,791 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 2 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $33,137 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 95 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,132 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 21 |
| 51 | Florida | $36,013 | $25,000 | 20,984,400 | 154 |
Highest paying states for machinists
| Rank | State | Avg. Machinist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $53,262 |
| 2 | Oregon | $52,972 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $51,130 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $54,280 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $49,890 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $47,846 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $46,429 |
| 8 | Virginia | $48,917 |
| 9 | Washington | $52,151 |
| 10 | Maine | $44,130 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $50,970 |
| 12 | Wyoming | $48,209 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $44,319 |
| 14 | Alabama | $42,893 |
| 15 | Vermont | $44,969 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $50,788 |
| 17 | Alaska | $52,198 |
| 18 | Nevada | $46,349 |
| 19 | Delaware | $49,731 |
| 20 | Ohio | $40,310 |
| 21 | Michigan | $40,092 |
| 22 | Maryland | $48,293 |
| 23 | Indiana | $39,959 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $42,606 |
| 25 | California | $45,722 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $39,880 |
| 27 | Utah | $41,735 |
| 28 | New York | $46,518 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $40,443 |
| 30 | Missouri | $40,950 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | $38,533 |
| 32 | Texas | $42,144 |
| 33 | Arizona | $41,143 |
| 34 | Illinois | $40,036 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $38,276 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $37,884 |
| 37 | Idaho | $40,500 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $39,245 |
| 39 | Kansas | $38,160 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $37,419 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $43,984 |
| 42 | Colorado | $39,755 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $37,462 |
| 44 | Montana | $36,980 |
| 45 | Iowa | $35,340 |
| 46 | Georgia | $38,973 |
| 47 | Arkansas | $37,631 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $41,791 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $33,137 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,132 |
| 51 | Florida | $36,013 |
Expert opinions on the best states for machinists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for machinists to find work opportunities?
Miles Free
Director, Industry Affairs, Precision Machined Products Association
Our shops were hiring, even during the pandemic. (Some of us needed extra personnel as we were suddenly making ventilators.) 80% of our PMPA shops today say that they are looking for talent. Small family-owned metalworking shops are particularly useful places to make a career. We pay well, we are putting in the latest technology, our work is essential (in September, our sales were up 8.4%, while manufacturing, in general, was still down 0.3 %).
Our shops help with tuition and training expenses. Our wages are U.S. Household Median after a few years on the job. The best place to find a job in our field is to enroll in a local community college CNC machining program. My experience has been that an employer will likely be trying to hire you before completing your first semester.
Machinist best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025