Machinists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,600 or more. The middle half of machinists in Boston earn between $59,730 and $80,250.
- $48K10th
- $60K25th
- $72KMedian
- $80K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,340 | $5,945 | $34.30 |
| Median | $72,060 | $6,005 | $34.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,730 | $4,978 | $28.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,250 | $6,688 | $38.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Machinists in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($69,390) and 20% more than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $71,340 | $72,060 | $48,400 | $93,600 | 4,870 |
| Massachusetts | $69,390 | $67,270 | $47,910 | $93,330 | 7,080 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $71,340, a single filer in Boston takes home about $55,771 a year, or $4,648 a month and $2,145 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $59,018 | $4,918 |
| Working in MA | $55,771 | $4,648 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $71,340 buys what about $65,893 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 10.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Barnstable pays the most ($77,800).
- Barnstable$77,800
- Boston$71,340
- Worcester$66,090
- Amherst$63,550
- Springfield$63,500
- Pittsfield$63,110
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 Boston: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Boston?
$34.30 an hour on average, and $34.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Boston?
About $55,771 a year ($4,648 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,340. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do machinists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% more than 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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