Machinist salary in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Machinists in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median of $60,500 a year ($29.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 990 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,570 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 3% higher than the Kentucky statewide median of $58,660. There are 1.4 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.78). The average (mean) salary is $60,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,780 | $19.60 |
| 25th percentile | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| Median | $60,500 | $29.09 |
| 75th percentile | $71,430 | $34.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Average (mean) | $60,750 | $29.21 |
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 | $5,041.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,520.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,326.92 |
| Weekly | $1,163.46 |
| Hourly | $29.09 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,500 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $62,220 | 720 |
| Columbus, IN | $61,230 | 1,470 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $60,300 | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $59,520 | 11,270 |
| Evansville, IN | $58,410 | 190 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $57,820 | 360 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $57,480 | 70 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $57,300 | 2,890 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $54,160 | 240 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $53,770 | 1,030 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $51,990 | 630 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $51,730 | 260 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $51,700 | 140 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $50,610 | 3,540 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $49,910 | 590 |
| Muncie, IN | $48,360 | 150 |
| Bloomington, IN | $47,850 | 540 |
| Owensboro, KY | $47,170 | 90 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $46,290 | 680 |
| Kokomo, IN | $45,200 | 60 |
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 Kentucky statewide figures.
Related jobs in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median salary for machinists in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $60,500 a year, or $29.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The top 10% of machinists in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn at least $79,570 a year. The top 25% earn $71,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,780 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $49,150 or less.
How many machinists work in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
About 990 machinists are employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.