Machinist salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Machinists in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median of $66,990 a year ($32.21 an hour), based on BLS data for 550 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,160 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 10% higher than the Louisiana statewide median of $61,110. There are 1.2 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $69,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,340 | $21.32 |
| 25th percentile | $54,490 | $26.20 |
| Median | $66,990 | $32.21 |
| 75th percentile | $82,040 | $39.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,160 | $49.60 |
| Average (mean) | $69,800 | $33.56 |
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 | $5,582.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,791.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,576.54 |
| Weekly | $1,288.27 |
| Hourly | $32.21 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $66,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Louisiana 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | $75,580 | 280 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | 870 |
| Monroe, LA | $63,350 | 130 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $61,700 | 110 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $60,440 | 340 |
| Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | 980 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $55,560 | 570 |
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 Louisiana statewide figures.
Related jobs in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $63,270 | $30.42 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $74,910 | $36.02 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,360 | $23.73 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,990 | $37.50 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $107,490 | $51.68 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $60,360 | $29.02 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $94,450 | $45.41 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $44,520 | $21.41 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $29,960 | $14.41 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,250 | $18.87 |
| Baker | $28,530 | $13.72 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $42,990 | $20.67 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $30,430 | $14.63 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
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 New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median salary for machinists in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $66,990 a year, or $32.21 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The top 10% of machinists in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn at least $103,160 a year. The top 25% earn $82,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,340 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $54,490 or less.
How many machinists work in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
About 550 machinists are employed in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area, not counting the self-employed.