Machinist salary in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Machinists in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area earn a median of $48,970 a year ($23.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,050 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 17% lower than the Texas statewide median of $59,180. There are 0.74 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.40). The average (mean) salary is $49,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,560 | $17.10 |
| 25th percentile | $38,840 | $18.67 |
| Median | $48,970 | $23.54 |
| 75th percentile | $58,020 | $27.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,050 | $33.20 |
| Average (mean) | $49,250 | $23.68 |
Half of machinists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,080.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,040.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,883.46 |
| Weekly | $941.73 |
| Hourly | $23.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,970 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Machinist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | $71,590 | 300 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $61,280 | 8,140 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $59,830 | 4,660 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $59,800 | 520 |
| Odessa, TX | $59,770 | 380 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $59,030 | 1,210 |
| Midland, TX | $58,800 | 270 |
| Tyler, TX | $58,170 | 80 |
| Abilene, TX | $56,160 | 60 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $55,560 | 90 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $53,190 | 750 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $52,790 | 130 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $50,420 | 130 |
| Waco, TX | $50,380 | 250 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $49,710 | 160 |
| San Angelo, TX | $49,610 | 100 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $49,310 | 140 |
| Victoria, TX | $48,420 | 60 |
| Longview, TX | $48,350 | 690 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $48,230 | 110 |
| Lubbock, TX | $47,790 | 160 |
| El Paso, TX | $46,880 | 360 |
| Amarillo, TX | $41,900 | 360 |
Highest-paying states for machinists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 |
| Alaska | $77,670 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| Oregon | $63,820 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 |
| Vermont | $62,680 |
| Delaware | $62,650 |
See Machinist pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $45,020 | $21.64 |
| Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $28,540 | $13.72 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $36,610 | $17.60 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $34,010 | $16.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $59,270 | $28.50 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $31,010 | $14.91 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $26,270 | $12.63 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $41,470 | $19.94 |
| Baker | $28,040 | $13.48 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,520 | $17.56 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $34,970 | $16.81 |
| Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters | $44,730 | $21.51 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
The median salary for machinists in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area is $48,970 a year, or $23.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $69,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
The top 10% of machinists in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area earn at least $69,050 a year. The top 25% earn $58,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,560 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $38,840 or less.
How many machinists work in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
About 120 machinists are employed in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.