Machinists pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,690 a year or less, while the top 10% make $71,480 or more. The middle half of machinists in Durham earn between $45,760 and $62,040.
- $39K10th
- $46K25th
- $51KMedian
- $62K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $54,620 | $4,552 | $26.26 |
| Median | $50,740 | $4,228 | $24.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,760 | $3,813 | $22.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,040 | $5,170 | $29.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Machinists in Durham earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($54,880) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $54,620 | $50,740 | $38,690 | $71,480 | 220 |
| North Carolina | $54,880 | $55,230 | $37,110 | $75,570 | 8,330 |
| 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 Durham
On the average salary of $54,620, a single filer in Durham takes home about $44,397 a year, or $3,700 a month and $1,708 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $54,620 buys what about $55,979 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 10th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Fayetteville pays the most ($64,270).
- Fayetteville$64,270
- Wilmington$61,550
- Rocky Mount$59,160
- Charlotte$58,820
- Raleigh$58,670
- Jacksonville$58,390
- Pinehurst$55,970
- Goldsboro$55,040
- Burlington$54,790
- Durham$54,620
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Machinists salary in Durham: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Durham?
$26.26 an hour on average, and $24.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,690 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Durham?
About $44,397 a year ($3,700 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,620.
Do machinists earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.