Machinists pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,570 or more. The middle half of machinists in Louisville earn between $49,150 and $71,430.
- $41K10th
- $49K25th
- $60KMedian
- $71K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,750 | $5,062 | $29.21 |
| Median | $60,500 | $5,042 | $29.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,150 | $4,096 | $23.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,430 | $5,952 | $34.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Machinists in Louisville earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($59,560) and about the same as the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $60,750 | $60,500 | $40,780 | $79,570 | 990 |
| Kentucky | $59,560 | $58,660 | $39,070 | $78,020 | 6,040 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in Louisville
On the average salary of $60,750, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $47,647 a year, or $3,971 a month and $1,833 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $49,200 | $4,100 |
| Working in KY | $47,647 | $3,971 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $60,750 buys what about $65,271 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 2nd of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Paducah pays the most ($63,540).
- Paducah$63,540
- Louisville$60,750
- Bowling Green$55,260
- Elizabethtown$54,310
- Owensboro$54,120
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in Louisville: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Louisville?
$29.21 an hour on average, and $29.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Louisville?
About $47,647 a year ($3,971 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,750. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do machinists earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4041; area Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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