Machinist Salary in Birmingham, AL
Machinists in the Birmingham, AL metro area earn a median $50,780 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,708 take-home, or $3,392 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Birmingham, AL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,914
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,148
- Medicare (1.45%)$736
- Alabama income tax$2,274
- Take-home pay$40,708
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
Machinist pay by experience in Birmingham, AL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,690 | $18.12 | $30,844 | $2,570 |
| 25th percentile | $47,220 | $22.70 | $38,025 | $3,169 |
| Median (50th) | $50,780 | $24.41 | $40,708 | $3,392 |
| 75th percentile | $63,630 | $30.59 | $50,390 | $4,199 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,720 | $36.88 | $59,232 | $4,936 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Alabama resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,780 buys in Birmingham, AL
Prices in Birmingham, AL are 8.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $40,708 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,419 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 Birmingham, AL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Birmingham, AL ranks #99 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 |
| 99 | Birmingham, AL | $50,780 | $40,708 | $44,419 |
*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 Alabama
- Huntsville, AL — $62,490
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Birmingham, AL?
The median machinist salary in the Birmingham, AL metro area is $50,780 a year, or about $24.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,220 and $63,630.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Birmingham, AL?
On the median $50,780 salary, a single filer living in Alabama takes home about $40,708 a year ($3,392 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,274 in Alabama taxes in 2026.
Is Birmingham, AL a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 8.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,419 would in a typical U.S. city. Birmingham, AL ranks #99 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Birmingham, AL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Birmingham, AL is $1,115 a month ($1,234 for two bedrooms) — 33% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Birmingham, AL
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $75,760
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $59,080
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $56,130
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,930
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $45,990
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $45,270
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $44,290
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $40,530
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $40,290
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $40,170
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $39,370
- Printing Press Operator — $37,620