Machinist Salary in Houston, TX
Machinists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $61,280 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,418 take-home, or $4,285 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,174
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,799
- Medicare (1.45%)$889
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$51,418
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Machinist pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,960 | $19.21 | $34,288 | $2,857 |
| 25th percentile | $49,480 | $23.79 | $41,937 | $3,495 |
| Median (50th) | $61,280 | $29.46 | $51,418 | $4,285 |
| 75th percentile | $71,770 | $34.50 | $59,320 | $4,943 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,470 | $39.17 | $66,144 | $5,512 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,280 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $51,418 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,133 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.3× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Houston, TX | $61,280 | $51,418 | $52,133 |
*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 Texas
- Beaumont, TX — $59,800
- Austin, TX — $59,030
- Dallas, TX — $59,830
- San Antonio, TX — $53,190
- Longview, TX — $48,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Houston, TX?
The median machinist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $61,280 a year, or about $29.46 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,480 and $71,770.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $61,280 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $51,418 a year ($4,285 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,133 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #23 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Chemical Plant and System Operator — $106,020
- Power Plant Operator — $104,620
- Gas Plant Operator — $85,530
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers — $84,100
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $79,430
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $75,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer — $69,820
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $57,940
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $54,500
- Plant and System Operators, All Other — $53,200
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $51,940
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter — $50,520