Machinist Salary in Denver, CO
Machinists in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $60,620 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,929 take-home, or $4,077 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,094
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,758
- Medicare (1.45%)$879
- Colorado income tax$1,959
- Take-home pay$48,929
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Machinist pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,810 | $22.50 | $38,441 | $3,203 |
| 25th percentile | $51,120 | $24.58 | $41,714 | $3,476 |
| Median (50th) | $60,620 | $29.14 | $48,929 | $4,077 |
| 75th percentile | $76,050 | $36.56 | $59,693 | $4,974 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,510 | $40.63 | $65,273 | $5,439 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,620 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $48,929 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,255 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 less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.35), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #80 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 |
| 80 | Denver, CO | $60,620 | $48,929 | $46,255 |
*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 Colorado
- Fort Collins, CO — $61,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Denver, CO?
The median machinist salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $60,620 a year, or about $29.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,120 and $76,050.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $60,620 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $48,929 a year ($4,077 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,959 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,255 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #80 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 43% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $79,860
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $76,150
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $58,890
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $58,430
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $58,240
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $56,770
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $56,160
- Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter — $52,180
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $51,180
- Printing Press Operator — $49,210
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $49,050
- Plant and System Operators, All Other — $48,550