Best States for Machinists

Ranked by median salary, with cost-of-living adjustments. Find where machinists earn the most and have the best purchasing power.

+8.3% projected growth

Much faster than average (national avg: +4%, +4.3pp)

State Rankings

Rank	State	Median	COL-Adjusted	Employment
1	District of ColumbiaDC	$101,810	$86,869	230
2	HawaiiHI	$77,060	$64,593	290
3	AlaskaAK	$72,710	$68,985	140
4	WashingtonWA	$64,510	$60,121	6,980
5	WyomingWY	$64,020	$66,827	300
6	MassachusettsMA	$62,420	$56,489	7,870
7	OregonOR	$62,120	$61,444	3,220
8	New JerseyNJ	$62,010	$54,828	3,530
9	MaineME	$61,950	$62,513	1,560
10	MontanaMT	$61,230	$63,451	680
11	ConnecticutCT	$61,090	$56,881	6,070
12	VirginiaVA	$60,920	$58,860	6,140
13	UtahUT	$60,450	$61,621	3,680
14	DelawareDE	$60,320	$59,253	390
15	New YorkNY	$60,220	$52,093	8,870
16	New HampshireNH	$59,910	$56,043	1,540
17	MinnesotaMN	$59,860	$60,587	14,910
18	Rhode IslandRI	$59,490	$59,076	860
19	ArizonaAZ	$59,020	$60,409	5,280
20	ColoradoCO	$58,890	$56,086	2,580
21	LouisianaLA	$58,710	$64,516	4,980
22	MarylandMD	$58,240	$53,090	1,600
23	North DakotaND	$58,110	$62,619	500
24	NebraskaNE	$58,060	$63,802	2,210
25	MissouriMO	$57,920	$64,933	8,200
26	New MexicoNM	$57,520	$61,257	830
27	IllinoisIL	$56,700	$57,273	16,100
28	CaliforniaCA	$56,220	$49,664	21,580
29	OhioOH	$56,200	$61,894	14,110
30	TexasTX	$56,040	$58,073	20,770
31	NevadaNV	$55,580	$55,469	860
32	North CarolinaNC	$55,520	$59,443	8,310
33	IdahoID	$53,760	$55,595	1,150
34	KentuckyKY	$53,630	$60,258	4,150
35	IowaIA	$53,400	$59,465	3,010
36	AlabamaAL	$53,320	$60,660	5,620
37	South CarolinaSC	$53,040	$58,286	4,530
38	PennsylvaniaPA	$52,560	$53,742	15,060
39	WisconsinWI	$52,030	$55,826	12,530
40	OklahomaOK	$51,980	$58,339	4,020
41	FloridaFL	$50,570	$50,570	8,240
42	MississippiMS	$50,460	$59,156	2,110
43	MichiganMI	$49,930	$53,631	23,090
44	South DakotaSD	$49,830	$54,459	580
45	GeorgiaGA	$49,420	$53,083	6,930
46	VermontVT	$49,040	$47,473	380
47	IndianaIN	$48,910	$53,629	16,510
48	ArkansasAR	$48,820	$56,180	2,390
49	TennesseeTN	$48,610	$53,126	7,730
50	KansasKS	$48,490	$53,639	4,070
51	West VirginiaWV	$47,980	$54,772	1,530

Analysis

The top three states for machinists by median salary are District of Columbia, Hawaii, and Alaska. However, when adjusted for cost of living, the rankings may shift — states with lower living costs can offer greater real purchasing power even with lower nominal salaries.

Explore by State

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