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Intermediate Machinist Salary in the United States

How much does an Intermediate Machinist make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Intermediate Machinist in the United States is $58,620 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, an Intermediate Machinist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,407
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,840 to $64,790
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,578
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View as table View as graph 25% $52,840 10% $47,578 90% $70,407 75% $64,790 $58,620 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Intermediate Machinist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $64,790 $5,399 $1,246 $31
Average $58,620 $4,885 $1,127 $28
25th Percentile $52,840 $4,403 $1,016 $25
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Key Factors That Influence Intermediate Machinist Salaries

An Intermediate Machinist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Intermediate Machinist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Intermediate Machinist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry Machinist (0-1 years): $45,975
  • Intermediate Machinist (1-3 years): $58,619
  • General Machinist III (3-5 years): $65,749
  • Expert Machinist (5-7 years): $73,351
  • Machining Operations Supervisor I (7+ years): $65,693
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Machinist0-1 years$45,975
Intermediate Machinist1-3 years$58,619
General Machinist III3-5 years$65,749
Expert Machinist5-7 years$73,351
Machining Operations Supervisor I7+ years$65,693
$45,975 Entry Mac...
$58,619 Intermedi...
$65,749 General M...
$73,351 Expert Ma...
$65,693 Machining...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Intermediate Machinists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $73,940
  • San Francisco: $73,130
  • Oakland: $71,590

What Skills Can Increase an Intermediate Machinist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 4.34% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Metal Fabrication (Mentioned in 3.52% Job Postings): Metal fabrication is defined as creating products or structures by cutting, bending, and/or assembling metal material.
  • Food Safety (Mentioned in 1.88% Job Postings): Applying procedures during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution to ensure consumers are safe from foodborne illnesses.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 4.34%
Metal Fabrication 3.52%
Food Safety 1.88%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Intermediate Machinist's salary.
  • Food Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Food Safety
$62,723
7%
Coaching
$62,137
6%
Analysis
$62,137
6%
Accountability
$60,965
4%
Programming
$60,965
4%
Scheduling
$60,965
4%
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Intermediate Machinist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Intermediate Machinist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $65,566. While startup companies pay approximate $55,449.

Intermediate Machinist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$55,449
Growth Stage51~500$58,646
Established501~5000$63,316
Enterprise5000+$65,566

Intermediate Machinist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Intermediate Machinist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Intermediate Machinist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Intermediate Machinist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Intermediate Machinist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$70,344$34.020%
Financial Services$67,413$32.015%
Internet$67,413$32.015%
Aerospace & Defense$65,654$32.012%
Energy & Utilities$64,482$31.010%

How Education impacts an Intermediate Machinist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Intermediate Machinists enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Intermediate Machinist with a No Diploma is between $52,137 and $56,002).

Intermediate Machinist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Intermediate Machinist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 65.1%
High School 65.1%
Associates 28.6%
Bachelors 4.8%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 1.6%
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Intermediate Machinist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Intermediate Machinist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Intermediate Machinist Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Intermediate Machinist, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Intermediate Machinist Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Plastic Injection Molding Operator III $56,700 -3%
Production Machine Operator III $51,600 -12%
General Machinist III $65,800 12%
CNC Laser Machine Operator II $62,800 7%

Salary Trends for Intermediate Machinist

Salaries for an Intermediate Machinist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $42,067 in 2023 to around $42,104 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Intermediate Machinist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Intermediate Machinist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$42,067
2024
$42,218
2025
$42,104
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $42,067
2024 $42,218
2025 $42,104
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Intermediate Machinist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Intermediate Machinist

Here are companies hiring for Intermediate Machinist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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