How much does a Top Machinists make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Top Machinists in the United States is $66,485 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,367
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,222 to $74,275
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,520

Key Factors That Influence Top Machinists Salaries

A Top Machinists'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 Top Machinists Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Top Machinists'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): $46,072
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $58,758
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $65,912
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $73,516
  • Expert (over 8 years): $65,839
Levels Salary
Machinist... Level Top Machinists$46,072
Machinist... Level Top Machinists$58,758
Top Machi... Level Top Machinists$65,912
Machinist... Level Top Machinists$73,516
Machine S... Level Top Machinists$65,839

How Do Top Machinists 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 Top Machinists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $73,612.
  • California: $73,333.
  • Massachusetts: $72,355.

Top Paying Cities for Top 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: $83,857
  • San Francisco: $82,939
  • Oakland: $81,191

What Skills Can Increase a Top Machinists's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.39% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Machine Controls (Mentioned in 2.07% Job Postings): Machine Control is the use of positioning tools and a display to provide a construction machinery operator with a reference between the position of the bucket or blade and the target grade.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.55% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.39%
Machine Controls 2.07%
Microsoft Office 1.55%

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 Top Machinists's salary.

  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement $72,468
9%
Microsoft Office $71,139
7%
Analysis $71,139
7%

Top Machinists Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Top Machinists roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 92% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 44% above the average. In contrast, Top Machinists positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Top Machinists as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Top Machinists

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$95,738$46.044%
Pharmaceuticals$86,430$42.030%
Biotechnology$81,111$39.022%
Healthcare$81,111$39.022%
Energy & Utilities$75,793$36.014%

How Education impacts a Top Machinists's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Top 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 Top Machinists with a No Diploma is between $63,085 and $67,276).

Top Machinists Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Top Machinists
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 70.4%
Associates 21.6%
Bachelors 6.4%
Masters 0.8%
Doctorate 0.0%

Top Machinists Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Top Machinists'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
$60,222
Average $66,485/year
$74,275
$5,018
Average $5,540/month
$6,190
$1,158
Average $1,279/week
$1,428
$29
Average $32/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $74,275 $6,190 $1,428 $36
Average $66,485 $5,540 $1,279 $32
25th Percentile $60,222 $5,018 $1,158 $29

Most common benefits for Top Machinists

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

Common company salaries for Top Machinists

Here are companies hiring for Top Machinists and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Top Machinists

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Top Machinists?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Top Machinists roles, with salaries approximately 44% 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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