Machinist Salary in Baton Rouge, LA
Machinists in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area earn a median $67,700 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,812 take-home, or $4,568 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Baton Rouge, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,064
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,197
- Medicare (1.45%)$982
- Louisiana income tax$1,645
- Take-home pay$54,812
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.00% state
Machinist pay by experience in Baton Rouge, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,930 | $22.08 | $38,093 | $3,174 |
| 25th percentile | $55,560 | $26.71 | $45,542 | $3,795 |
| Median (50th) | $67,700 | $32.55 | $54,812 | $4,568 |
| 75th percentile | $84,990 | $40.86 | $66,457 | $5,538 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $87,200 | $41.92 | $67,945 | $5,662 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $67,700 buys in Baton Rouge, LA
Prices in Baton Rouge, LA are 9.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 26% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $54,812 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,379 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 Baton Rouge, LA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Baton Rouge, LA ranks #1 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 |
*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 Louisiana
- New Orleans, LA — $66,990
- Lafayette, LA — $59,830
- Houma, LA — $55,560
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Baton Rouge, LA?
The median machinist salary in the Baton Rouge, LA metro area is $67,700 a year, or about $32.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $55,560 and $84,990.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Baton Rouge, LA?
On the median $67,700 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $54,812 a year ($4,568 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,645 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is Baton Rouge, LA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 9.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,379 would in a typical U.S. city. Baton Rouge, LA ranks #1 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Baton Rouge, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Baton Rouge, LA is $1,048 a month ($1,187 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Baton Rouge, LA
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers — $108,420
- Chemical Plant and System Operator — $104,410
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $95,810
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $93,920
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $78,170
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $59,720
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter — $58,410
- Production Workers, All Other — $46,400
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $44,300
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $38,260
- Helpers--Production Worker — $36,770
- Baker — $28,020