Machinist Salary in Grand Rapids, MI
Machinists in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area earn a median $50,110 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,564 take-home, or $3,380 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Grand Rapids, MI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,833
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,107
- Medicare (1.45%)$727
- Michigan income tax$1,879
- Take-home pay$40,564
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.25% state
Machinist pay by experience in Grand Rapids, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,160 | $18.35 | $31,471 | $2,623 |
| 25th percentile | $43,960 | $21.13 | $35,884 | $2,990 |
| Median (50th) | $50,110 | $24.09 | $40,564 | $3,380 |
| 75th percentile | $61,520 | $29.58 | $49,247 | $4,104 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,740 | $34.49 | $56,501 | $4,708 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,110 buys in Grand Rapids, MI
Prices in Grand Rapids, MI are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 13% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $40,564 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,455 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Grand Rapids, MI has 3.1× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Grand Rapids, MI ranks #108 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 |
| 108 | Grand Rapids, MI | $50,110 | $40,564 | $42,455 |
*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 Michigan
- Lansing, MI — $59,850
- Detroit, MI — $59,310
- Saginaw, MI — $52,360
- Niles, MI — $50,430
- Jackson, MI — $49,840
- Muskegon, MI — $48,280
- Kalamazoo, MI — $49,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Grand Rapids, MI?
The median machinist salary in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI metro area is $50,110 a year, or about $24.09 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $43,960 and $61,520.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Grand Rapids, MI?
On the median $50,110 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $40,564 a year ($3,380 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,879 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Grand Rapids, MI a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,455 would in a typical U.S. city. Grand Rapids, MI ranks #108 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Grand Rapids, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Grand Rapids, MI is $1,242 a month ($1,479 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Grand Rapids, MI
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $66,330
- Tool and Die Maker — $64,650
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer — $63,560
- Engine and Other Machine Assembler — $53,570
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $49,780
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $48,920
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,910
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,080
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing — $47,720
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $47,670
- Food Batchmaker — $44,650
- Printing Press Operator — $44,650