Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Machinists work in a sizable national occupation, with about 300,000 jobs across the country. The role is accessible with a typical education level of a high school diploma or equivalent, making it a potential option for people who prefer to build skills on the job rather than through extended formal schooling. The national median annual salary of $56,150 offers a solid earnings platform, with some states and metro areas showing higher typical pay. The field emphasizes strong mechanical ability, fine motor skills, and attention to detail, supported by mathematics, science, and problem-solving capabilities. Project management and creativity also appear among the most important skills, pointing to opportunities to take on more complex work over time. For those who want hands-on, mechanically focused work and are prepared to develop a mix of technical and analytical skills, machinist roles offer a structured path with clear employment scale and defined educational expectations.
Machinists earn a national median annual salary of $56,150, but pay can vary considerably by location. Among the top states, Massachusetts shows a median salary of $67,270, Washington $66,160, and New York $60,920, while California and Colorado report $57,190 and $60,200 respectively. At the metro level, typical pay can be even higher: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH reports a median salary of $72,060, and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV shows $68,850. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has a median of $67,750, and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stands at $62,750. These figures highlight that experienced machinists working in certain metro areas and high-opportunity states may see earnings above the national median. People considering this career may want to compare state and metro medians when evaluating long-term earning potential and relocation options.
Machinists account for approximately 300,000 jobs nationally, indicating a broad employment base across the country. Projected employment growth for this occupation is 0.0%, suggesting that overall job numbers are expected to remain generally stable rather than expand or contract. Despite the flat growth projection, there are about 30,000 annual openings. These openings can reflect a combination of factors such as workers moving to other occupations or leaving the labor force. For career planners, this means that while the total number of machinist jobs is not projected to increase, there is still a consistent flow of opportunities each year. Individuals entering the field should view it as a mature occupation with ongoing replacement demand rather than one characterized by rapid expansion in total employment.
Location makes a meaningful difference for machinists in terms of salary levels and overall opportunity scores. Among states, California has the largest machinist employment at 18,950, with a median salary of $57,190 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts offers a higher median salary of $67,270 and an opportunity score of 65.87, with employment of 7,080. New York combines a median salary of $60,920 with 9,400 employed and an opportunity score of 65.78. Colorado and Washington also show solid opportunity scores (56.97 and 56.29) with median salaries of $60,200 and $66,160 respectively. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with very high opportunity scores of 77.42 and 77.27. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH provides a notable combination of a $72,060 median salary and a strong opportunity score of 63.37, making it one of the more attractive metros for potential earnings.
The typical education requirement for machinists is a high school diploma or equivalent, which makes this career accessible to individuals who do not plan to pursue a four-year degree. However, succeeding in this field depends on building a substantial skill set. Top skills include fine motor ability and mechanical aptitude, which support hands-on work with tools and machinery. Being detail oriented is also critical, along with a solid foundation in mathematics and science. Physical strength and stamina are important, reflecting the physical nature of many machinist roles. The presence of critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, and project management among the top skills shows that this career is not only manual but also intellectually demanding. Creativity and innovation are valued as well, suggesting room for individuals to contribute ideas and improvements as they gain experience.
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