Machinist salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Machinists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $62,900 a year ($30.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,350 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,540 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 3% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $61,290. There are 3.1 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,430, close to the median.
Pay range for machinists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,880 | $23.50 |
| 25th percentile | $49,900 | $23.99 |
| Median | $62,900 | $30.24 |
| 75th percentile | $67,660 | $32.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,540 | $36.80 |
| Average (mean) | $62,430 | $30.02 |
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 | $5,241.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,620.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,419.23 |
| Weekly | $1,209.62 |
| Hourly | $30.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,900 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $68,850 | 620 |
| Wilmington, NC | $62,810 | 180 |
| Richmond, VA | $62,650 | 650 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,430 | 570 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $61,140 | 480 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $60,410 | 130 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $60,210 | 2,390 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $59,920 | 230 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $59,790 | 60 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $58,150 | 80 |
| Greenville, NC | $58,010 | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $57,890 | 450 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $56,920 | 90 |
| Burlington, NC | $56,460 | 110 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $55,600 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $55,500 | 30 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $53,840 | 40 |
| Asheville, NC | $53,110 | 850 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $52,270 | 530 |
| Roanoke, VA | $52,000 | 290 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $50,740 | 220 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $50,350 | 910 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $49,900 | 60 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $49,130 | 100 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $43,430 | 460 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for machinists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $62,900 a year, or $30.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of machinists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $76,540 a year. The top 25% earn $67,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,880 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $49,900 or less.
How many machinists work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 2,350 machinists are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.