Machinist Salary in Boston, MA
Machinists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $72,060 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,141 take-home, or $4,678 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,023
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,468
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,045
- Massachusetts income tax$3,383
- Take-home pay$56,141
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Machinist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,400 | $23.27 | $38,869 | $3,239 |
| 25th percentile | $59,730 | $28.72 | $47,407 | $3,951 |
| Median (50th) | $72,060 | $34.64 | $56,141 | $4,678 |
| 75th percentile | $80,250 | $38.58 | $61,493 | $5,124 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $93,600 | $45.00 | $70,218 | $5,851 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $72,060 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $56,141 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,855 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #25 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 |
| 25 | Boston, MA | $72,060 | $56,141 | $51,855 |
*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 Massachusetts
- Springfield, MA — $63,090
- Worcester, MA — $64,480
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Boston, MA?
The median machinist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $72,060 a year, or about $34.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,730 and $80,250.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $72,060 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $56,141 a year ($4,678 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,383 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,855 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #25 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Power Plant Operator — $103,900
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer — $85,560
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $82,660
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $73,330
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter — $64,350
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $64,180
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $63,770
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $61,890
- Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter — $59,120
- Semiconductor Processing Technician — $59,110
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $59,080
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $58,820