Machinist Salary in Charlotte, NC
Machinists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median $60,210 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,665 take-home, or $4,055 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Charlotte, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,045
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,733
- Medicare (1.45%)$873
- North Carolina income tax$1,894
- Take-home pay$48,665
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro spans North Carolina, South Carolina. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Machinist pay by experience in Charlotte, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,880 | $19.17 | $33,141 | $2,762 |
| 25th percentile | $48,440 | $23.29 | $39,678 | $3,306 |
| Median (50th) | $60,210 | $28.95 | $48,665 | $4,055 |
| 75th percentile | $66,840 | $32.13 | $53,694 | $4,474 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,080 | $36.58 | $59,825 | $4,985 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,210 buys in Charlotte, NC
Prices in Charlotte, NC are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $48,665 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,991 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 Charlotte, NC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Charlotte, NC ranks #44 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 |
| 44 | Charlotte, NC | $60,210 | $48,665 | $49,991 |
*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
- Greensboro, NC — $52,270
- Asheville, NC — $53,110
- Winston, NC — $50,350
- Hickory, NC — $43,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Charlotte, NC?
The median machinist salary in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $60,210 a year, or about $28.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,440 and $66,840.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Charlotte, NC?
On the median $60,210 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $48,665 a year ($4,055 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,894 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Charlotte, NC a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,991 would in a typical U.S. city. Charlotte, NC ranks #44 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Charlotte, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Charlotte, NC is $1,428 a month ($1,577 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Charlotte, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $74,080
- Tool and Die Maker — $62,440
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $58,600
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $57,110
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $56,070
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $52,530
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $51,000
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $49,970
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $49,450
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $49,400
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,220
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,120