Salary AI Book a Demo

Manual Machinist Salary in the United States

How much does a Manual Machinist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Manual Machinist in the United States is $46,183 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $53,001
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,468 to $49,752
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $39,085
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Manual Machinist Salaries

A Manual 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 Manual Machinist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Manual 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): $45,921
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $58,565
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $65,695
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $73,274
  • Expert (over 8 years): $65,622
Levels Salary
Manual Ma... Level Manual Machinist$45,921
Machinist... Level Manual Machinist$58,565
Machinist... Level Manual Machinist$65,695
Machinist... Level Manual Machinist$73,274
Machine S... Level Manual Machinist$65,622
View as Graph

How Do Manual 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 Manual Machinists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $51,134.
  • California: $50,940.
  • Massachusetts: $50,261.

Top Paying Cities for Manual 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: $58,251
  • San Francisco: $57,613
  • Oakland: $56,399

What Skills Can Increase a Manual Machinist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 3.45% 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 3.33% Job Postings): Metal fabrication is defined as creating products or structures by cutting, bending, and/or assembling metal material.
  • HVAC (Mentioned in 1.79% Job Postings): Designing, developing, maintaining, and updating Heating, Ventilation, Air-conditioning and Cooling system.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.45%
Metal Fabrication 3.33%
HVAC 1.79%
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 a Manual Machinist's salary.

  • SOP: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
SOP $51,725
12%
Time Management $48,954
6%
Consulting $48,492
5%
Get Latest Data

Manual Machinist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Manual Machinist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Manual Machinist positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Manual Machinist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Manual Machinist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$55,420$27.020%

How Education impacts a Manual Machinist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Manual 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 a Manual Machinist with a No Diploma is between $43,569 and $46,801).

Manual Machinist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Manual Machinist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.6%
High School 72.4%
Associates 22.0%
Bachelors 4.1%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Manual 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
$42,468
Average $46,183/year
$49,752
$3,539
Average $3,849/month
$4,146
$817
Average $888/week
$957
$20
Average $22/hour
$24
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $49,752 $4,146 $957 $24
Average $46,183 $3,849 $888 $22
25th Percentile $42,468 $3,539 $817 $20

Most common benefits for Manual Machinist

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

Common company salaries for Manual Machinist

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

Find Your Next Manual Machinist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Manual Machinist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Manual Machinist

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

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Manual 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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst