Machinist Salary in Appleton, WI
Machinists in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median $60,350 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,797 take-home, or $4,066 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Appleton, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,062
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,742
- Medicare (1.45%)$875
- Wisconsin income tax$1,874
- Take-home pay$48,797
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Machinist pay by experience in Appleton, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,730 | $19.10 | $33,136 | $2,761 |
| 25th percentile | $49,180 | $23.64 | $40,313 | $3,359 |
| Median (50th) | $60,350 | $29.01 | $48,797 | $4,066 |
| 75th percentile | $64,160 | $30.85 | $51,691 | $4,308 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,850 | $36.95 | $60,201 | $5,017 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,350 buys in Appleton, WI
Prices in Appleton, WI are 7.6% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $48,797 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,800 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Appleton, WI has 2.9× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Appleton, WI ranks #17 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | $54,812 | $60,379 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $66,990 | $54,334 | $58,678 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | $49,474 | $56,456 |
| 4 | Kingsport, TN | $57,890 | $48,695 | $56,329 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | $61,710 | $50,071 | $56,209 |
| 6 | Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | $48,845 | $56,009 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $56,008 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $59,800 | $50,229 | $55,782 |
| 17 | Appleton, WI | $60,350 | $48,797 | $52,800 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Machinist salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Green Bay, WI — $60,270
- Fond du Lac, WI — $57,700
- Madison, WI — $60,830
- Milwaukee, WI — $60,320
- Racine, WI — $57,720
- Sheboygan, WI — $55,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Appleton, WI?
The median machinist salary in the Appleton, WI metro area is $60,350 a year, or about $29.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,180 and $64,160.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Appleton, WI?
On the median $60,350 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $48,797 a year ($4,066 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,874 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Appleton, WI a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 7.6% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,800 would in a typical U.S. city. Appleton, WI ranks #17 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Appleton, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Appleton, WI is $960 a month ($1,236 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,240
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $59,550
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $58,920
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $53,560
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $53,390
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,930
- Food Batchmaker — $49,390
- Printing Press Operator — $46,090
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,670
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $45,660