Machinist Salary in Houston, TX
Machinists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $61,280 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,418 take-home, or $4,285 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,174
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,799
- Medicare (1.45%)$889
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$51,418
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Machinist pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,960 | $19.21 | $34,288 | $2,857 |
| 25th percentile | $49,480 | $23.79 | $41,937 | $3,495 |
| Median (50th) | $61,280 | $29.46 | $51,418 | $4,285 |
| 75th percentile | $71,770 | $34.50 | $59,320 | $4,943 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,470 | $39.17 | $66,144 | $5,512 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,280 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $51,418 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,133 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.3× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #3 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 |
*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.
Machinist salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $59,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Houston, TX?
The median machinist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $61,280 a year, or about $29.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,480 and $71,770.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $61,280 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $51,418 a year ($4,285 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,133 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #3 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
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- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $79,430
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- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $50,280
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $46,950
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- Production Workers, All Other — $39,070
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $38,120
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $37,890