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Outside Machinists play a pivotal role in the manufacturing and repair of machinery, especially in sectors like shipbuilding and heavy equipment. According to data for October 2025, the average salary for an Outside Machinist is approximately $42,858 annually. Salaries can vary based on experience level, with entry-level positions typically earning less than those with several years of experience.
Entry-level Outside Machinists may start around $30,000, while experienced professionals can earn upwards of $60,000. Geographic location also plays a crucial role in salary differences. For instance, states with a high demand for skilled machinists often offer higher pay rates.
States like California, Texas, and New York typically provide the highest salaries for Outside Machinists. In California, for example, salaries can exceed $50,000 per year, reflecting the cost of living and demand in the region.
As the industry evolves, the demand for skilled Outside Machinists is expected to grow. By staying informed about salary trends and opportunities, individuals can make strategic career decisions that align with their goals.
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| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level outside machinist | $36,400 | $17.48 |
| Mid-level outside machinist | $47,500 | $22.82 |
| Senior-level outside machinist | $63,400 | $30.46 |
The average outside machinist salary in Alaska, New Mexico, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average outside machinist salary states are Ohio, West Virginia, and Oklahoma.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $53,569 | $25.75 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $54,590 | $26.25 |
| 3 | Oregon | $49,424 | $23.76 |
| 4 | Washington | $54,935 | $26.41 |
| 5 | Missouri | $52,826 | $25.40 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $55,650 | $26.75 |
| 7 | Iowa | $45,519 | $21.88 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $47,201 | $22.69 |
| 9 | Alaska | $58,270 | $28.01 |
| 10 | Illinois | $46,408 | $22.31 |
| 11 | Michigan | $43,676 | $21.00 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $50,844 | $24.44 |
| 13 | California | $49,126 | $23.62 |
| 14 | Nevada | $48,198 | $23.17 |
| 15 | Montana | $43,503 | $20.91 |
| 16 | Texas | $43,958 | $21.13 |
| 17 | Vermont | $44,274 | $21.29 |
| 18 | Indiana | $42,715 | $20.54 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $43,812 | $21.06 |
| 20 | Alabama | $42,098 | $20.24 |
| 21 | Delaware | $47,704 | $22.93 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $43,653 | $20.99 |
| 23 | Kansas | $41,956 | $20.17 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $46,167 | $22.20 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $43,742 | $21.03 |
| 26 | Idaho | $42,613 | $20.49 |
| 27 | Maine | $41,219 | $19.82 |
| 28 | New York | $44,345 | $21.32 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $42,115 | $20.25 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $42,336 | $20.35 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $41,806 | $20.10 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $41,246 | $19.83 |
| 33 | Colorado | $44,164 | $21.23 |
| 34 | Utah | $42,522 | $20.44 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $39,591 | $19.03 |
| 36 | Virginia | $42,739 | $20.55 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $38,997 | $18.75 |
| 38 | Ohio | $38,360 | $18.44 |
| 39 | Maryland | $44,513 | $21.40 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $44,382 | $21.34 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $41,657 | $20.03 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $37,934 | $18.24 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $40,414 | $19.43 |
| 44 | Arizona | $40,535 | $19.49 |
| 45 | Florida | $39,101 | $18.80 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $36,970 | $17.77 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $37,160 | $17.87 |
| 48 | District of Columbia | $43,052 | $20.70 |
| 49 | Georgia | $38,416 | $18.47 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $37,682 | $18.12 |
| 51 | North Carolina | $36,169 | $17.39 |
The highest-paying cities for outside machinists are Bremerton, WA, Vallejo, CA, and Portland, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremerton, WA | $55,604 | $26.73 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $50,089 | $24.08 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $49,558 | $23.83 |
| 4 | Pearl City, HI | $44,423 | $21.36 |
| 5 | Fort Collins, CO | $44,332 | $21.31 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $43,703 | $21.01 |
| 7 | Lake Charles, LA | $42,742 | $20.55 |
| 8 | Hampton, VA | $42,710 | $20.53 |
| 9 | Mobile, AL | $42,155 | $20.27 |
| 10 | North Kingstown, RI | $41,914 | $20.15 |
| 11 | Jacksonville, FL | $39,915 | $19.19 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $38,554 | $18.54 |
| 13 | Charleston, SC | $36,984 | $17.78 |
An outside machinist's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $57,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 75th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| Average | $42,858 | $3,572 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
The highest paying types of outside machinists are machinist class b, machinist supervisor, and maintenance machinist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grinder | $33,001 | $2,750 | $15.87 | 3,409 |
| Tool Technician | $42,908 | $3,576 | $20.63 | 78,258 |
| Computer Numerical Controller Machinist | $41,685 | $3,474 | $20.04 | 32,345 |
| Maintenance Machinist | $52,077 | $4,340 | $25.04 | 83,042 |
| Manual Machinist | $48,038 | $4,003 | $23.10 | 9,149 |
| Welder/Machinist | $38,338 | $3,195 | $18.43 | 17,543 |
Top companies hiring outside machinists now:
Outside machinist salaries at Oceaneering and Tradesmen International are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average outside machinist salary at companies like System One and HKA Enterprises are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceaneering | $47,845 | $23.00 |
| 2 | Tradesmen International | $45,561 | $21.90 |
| 3 | System One | $43,487 | $20.91 |
| 4 | HKA Enterprises | $43,435 | $20.88 |
| 5 | Sasol Chemicals (USA) LLC | $43,261 | $20.80 |
| 6 | Grp Inc | $42,681 | $20.52 |
| 7 | Huntington Ingalls Industries | $42,681 | $20.52 |
| 8 | Electric | $42,681 | $20.52 |
| 9 | Fincantieri Marine Group | $42,659 | $20.51 |
| 10 | Austal | $42,484 | $20.43 |
| 11 | Bollinger Shipyards | $42,439 | $20.40 |
| 12 | Tecnico | $42,312 | $20.34 |
| 13 | Lyon Shipyard | $42,301 | $20.34 |
| 14 | Colonna's Shipyard | $42,283 | $20.33 |
| 15 | Gulf Copper | $41,977 | $20.18 |
| 16 | Hutco | $41,350 | $19.88 |
| 17 | Aerotek | $39,418 | $18.95 |
| 18 | Epsilon Systems | $39,126 | $18.81 |
| 19 | Virginia's Community Colleges | $38,091 | $18.31 |
| 20 | BAE Systems | $37,585 | $18.07 |
The average outside machinist salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $43,016 | $20.68 |
| 2 | Professional | $42,706 | $20.53 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $42,330 | $20.35 |
| 4 | Technology | $41,631 | $20.01 |
The average outside machinist salary has risen by $6,190 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average outside machinist earned $36,668 annually, but today, they earn $42,858 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for outside machinists over the last decade.
Compare outside machinist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare outside machinist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $42,900 | $20.60 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $41,500 | $19.97 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $40,800 | $19.61 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $39,800 | $19.15 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $39,000 | $18.74 | +2.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerotek | Outside Machinist (Repair) | Norfolk, VA | 06/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| CTR Corporation (Dba CTR Group | Outside Machinist | Norfolk, VA | 06/23/2025 | $52,175 |
| Aerotek | Outside Machinist | San Diego, CA | 06/22/2025 | $53,323 |
| Integrity Staffing Services | 1St. Class Outside Machinist | Jacksonville, FL | 06/19/2025 | $48,001 |
| Bae Systems | Outside Machinist | Jacksonville, FL | 06/12/2025 | $35,048 |
| Everett Ship Repair | Outside Machinist Journeyman ESR | Everett, WA | 06/05/2025 | $67,347 |
| Bae Systems Plc | Outside Machinist (2ND Shift) | San Diego, CA | 05/29/2025 | $57,720 |
| Tradesmen International, LLC | Marine Outside Machinist | Rowe, MA | 05/28/2025 | $48,001 |
| Aerotek | Outside Machinist (Repair) | San Diego, CA | 05/24/2025 | $52,175 |
| General Dynamics | Outside Machinist/Outside Machine Operator (Grades) | Bath, ME | 05/22/2025 | $60,273 |
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