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Outside Machinist Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Outside Machinist in the United States is $58,172 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $69,440
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $51,868 to $64,070
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,128
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Outside Machinist Salaries

An Outside 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 Outside Machinist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Outside 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-Level (less than 1 year): $46,643
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $59,486
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $66,728
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,426
  • Expert (over 8 years): $66,654
Levels Salary
Machinist... Level Outside Machinist$46,643
Outside M... Level Outside Machinist$59,486
Machinist... Level Outside Machinist$66,728
Machinist... Level Outside Machinist$74,426
Machine S... Level Outside Machinist$66,654
View as Graph

How Do Outside Machinist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Outside Machinists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $64,408.
  • California: $64,164.
  • Massachusetts: $63,309.

Top Paying Cities for Outside 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: $73,373
  • San Francisco: $72,569
  • Oakland: $71,040

What Skills Can Increase an Outside 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 4.34%
Metal Fabrication 3.52%
Food Safety 1.88%
See More Skills

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 Outside 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 $62,244
7%
Coaching $61,663
6%
Analysis $61,663
6%
Get Latest Data

Outside Machinist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Outside 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, Outside Machinist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Outside Machinist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Outside Machinist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$69,807$34.020%
Financial Services$66,898$32.015%
Internet$66,898$32.015%
Aerospace & Defense$65,153$31.012%
Energy & Utilities$63,989$31.010%

How Education impacts an Outside Machinist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Outside 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 Outside Machinist with a No Diploma is between $53,132 and $56,985).

Outside Machinist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Outside 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%
View as Graph

Outside Machinist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Outside 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 September 01, 2026
$51,868
Average $58,172/year
$64,070
$4,322
Average $4,848/month
$5,339
$997
Average $1,119/week
$1,232
$25
Average $28/hour
$31
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $64,070 $5,339 $1,232 $31
Average $58,172 $4,848 $1,119 $28
25th Percentile $51,868 $4,322 $997 $25

Most common benefits for Outside Machinist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Outside Machinist

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

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FAQ about Outside Machinist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Outside Machinist?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Outside Machinist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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