Machinist salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Machinists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $68,850 a year ($33.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 620 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,750 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 6% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $72,900. There are 0.20 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.11). The average (mean) salary is $75,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,820 | $23.47 |
| 25th percentile | $55,540 | $26.70 |
| Median | $68,850 | $33.10 |
| 75th percentile | $95,130 | $45.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,750 | $54.69 |
| Average (mean) | $75,140 | $36.13 |
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 | $5,737.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,868.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,648.08 |
| Weekly | $1,324.04 |
| Hourly | $33.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $68,850 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $62,900 | 2,350 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $62,820 | 50 |
| Richmond, VA | $62,650 | 650 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,280 | 3,330 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $61,140 | 480 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $60,410 | 130 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $60,280 | 750 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $59,920 | 230 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $59,390 | 210 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $58,780 | 60 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $57,890 | 450 |
| Beckley, WV | $55,950 | 70 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $55,600 | 50 |
| Roanoke, VA | $52,000 | 290 |
| Morgantown, WV | $50,510 | 90 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $49,900 | 60 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $49,130 | 100 |
| Salisbury, MD | $48,890 | 50 |
| Charleston, WV | $48,110 | 110 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $46,530 | 140 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $46,290 | 680 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $60,670 | $29.17 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,820 | $23.95 |
| Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $40,600 | $19.52 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $47,410 | $22.79 |
| Baker | $38,650 | $18.58 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,990 | $37.49 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $61,820 | $29.72 |
| Printing Press Operator | $49,490 | $23.79 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for machinists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $68,850 a year, or $33.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of machinists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $113,750 a year. The top 25% earn $95,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,820 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $55,540 or less.
How many machinists work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 620 machinists are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.