Machinist Salary in Atlanta, GA
Machinists in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $56,270 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,095 take-home, or $3,758 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,572
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,489
- Medicare (1.45%)$816
- Georgia income tax$2,298
- Take-home pay$45,095
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Machinist pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,690 | $18.12 | $31,131 | $2,594 |
| 25th percentile | $43,950 | $21.13 | $35,836 | $2,986 |
| Median (50th) | $56,270 | $27.05 | $45,095 | $3,758 |
| 75th percentile | $65,750 | $31.61 | $52,221 | $4,352 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,140 | $38.53 | $61,672 | $5,139 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $56,270 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $45,095 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,069 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Machinist jobs are less concentrated in Atlanta, GA than nationally (location quotient 0.47), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #18 of 22 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $74,560 | $61,283 | $55,144 |
| 2 | St. Louis, MO | $62,210 | $50,179 | $52,771 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $61,280 | $51,418 | $52,133 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $72,060 | $56,141 | $51,855 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $58,240 | $48,157 | $51,272 |
| 6 | Virginia Beach, VA | $62,900 | $49,918 | $50,967 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $64,320 | $51,892 | $50,505 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,320 | $48,774 | $50,315 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $56,270 | $45,095 | $45,069 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 22 metros →
About the job: machinists
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures. Machinists who primarily program or operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment are classified in "Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Programmers" (51-9160).
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Atlanta, GA?
The median machinist salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $56,270 a year, or about $27.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,950 and $65,750.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $56,270 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $45,095 a year ($3,758 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,298 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,069 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #18 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
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- Food Batchmaker — $48,780
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $46,930
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $46,870
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- Printing Press Operator — $44,610
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $42,320
- Production Workers, All Other — $40,970
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $40,620
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers — $39,300
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $38,960