Machinist Salary in Charlotte, NC
Machinists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $60,210 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,665 take-home, or $4,055 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,045
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,733
- Medicare (1.45%)$873
- North Carolina income tax$1,894
- Take-home pay$48,665
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Machinist pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,880 | $19.17 | $33,141 | $2,762 |
| 25th percentile | $48,440 | $23.29 | $39,678 | $3,306 |
| Median (50th) | $60,210 | $28.95 | $48,665 | $4,055 |
| 75th percentile | $66,840 | $32.13 | $53,694 | $4,474 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,080 | $36.58 | $59,825 | $4,985 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,210 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $48,665 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,991 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 about as common in Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Charlotte, NC | $60,210 | $48,665 | $49,991 |
*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 Charlotte, NC?
The median machinist salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $60,210 a year, or about $28.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,440 and $66,840.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $60,210 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $48,665 a year ($4,055 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,894 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,991 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #9 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $74,080
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $56,070
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,670
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $44,660
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $44,330
- Production Workers, All Other — $42,620
- Baker — $36,580