Machinist Salary in Asheville, NC
Machinists in the Asheville, NC metro area earn a median $53,110 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,244 take-home, or $3,604 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Asheville, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,193
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,293
- Medicare (1.45%)$770
- North Carolina income tax$1,610
- Take-home pay$43,244
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Machinist pay by experience in Asheville, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,950 | $19.21 | $33,195 | $2,766 |
| 25th percentile | $40,730 | $19.58 | $33,790 | $2,816 |
| Median (50th) | $53,110 | $25.53 | $43,244 | $3,604 |
| 75th percentile | $60,250 | $28.97 | $48,696 | $4,058 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,340 | $36.70 | $59,998 | $5,000 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $53,110 buys in Asheville, NC
Prices in Asheville, NC are 3.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 7% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $43,244 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,809 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Asheville, NC has 2.5× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Asheville, NC ranks #96 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 |
| 96 | Asheville, NC | $53,110 | $43,244 | $44,809 |
*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 North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC — $61,430
- Charlotte, NC — $60,210
- Greensboro, NC — $52,270
- Winston, NC — $50,350
- Hickory, NC — $43,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Asheville, NC?
The median machinist salary in the Asheville, NC metro area is $53,110 a year, or about $25.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,730 and $60,250.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Asheville, NC?
On the median $53,110 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $43,244 a year ($3,604 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,610 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Asheville, NC a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 3.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,809 would in a typical U.S. city. Asheville, NC ranks #96 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Asheville, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Asheville, NC is $1,429 a month ($1,567 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Asheville, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $70,470
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,010
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $44,700
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $44,570
- Production Workers, All Other — $42,810
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $42,060
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $40,170
- Baker — $36,270