Machinists pay range in Altoona
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,920 or more. The middle half of machinists in Altoona earn between $42,950 and $58,770.
- $37K10th
- $43K25th
- $53KMedian
- $59K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,830 | $4,319 | $24.92 |
| Median | $52,660 | $4,388 | $25.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,950 | $3,579 | $20.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,770 | $4,898 | $28.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Altoona vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Machinists in Altoona earn 9% less than the Pennsylvania average ($57,080) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | $51,830 | $52,660 | $37,080 | $62,920 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,080 | $57,810 | $39,620 | $77,090 | 12,380 |
| 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 Altoona
On the average salary of $51,830, a single filer in Altoona takes home about $42,234 a year, or $3,520 a month and $1,624 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Altoona a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Altoona area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.5), so the average $51,830 buys what about $57,906 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Altoona ($44,270). A typical home costs $178,052, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Altoona ranks 15th of 16 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($62,130).
- Philadelphia$62,130
- Reading$57,860
- Allentown$57,110
- York$57,100
- Harrisburg$56,640
- Erie$56,230
- Williamsport$56,150
- Pittsburgh$55,870
- Lancaster$55,720
- Altoona$51,830
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 Altoona: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Altoona?
$24.92 an hour on average, and $25.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Altoona?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Altoona?
About $42,234 a year ($3,520 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,830. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do machinists earn more in Altoona than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Altoona, PA (11020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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