Machinist Salary in Madison, WI
Machinists in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $60,830 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,161 take-home, or $4,097 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,120
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,771
- Medicare (1.45%)$882
- Wisconsin income tax$1,895
- Take-home pay$49,161
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Machinist pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,060 | $19.74 | $34,146 | $2,846 |
| 25th percentile | $49,020 | $23.57 | $40,192 | $3,349 |
| Median (50th) | $60,830 | $29.25 | $49,161 | $4,097 |
| 75th percentile | $68,190 | $32.78 | $54,568 | $4,547 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,350 | $41.03 | $65,731 | $5,478 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,830 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $49,161 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,532 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 Madison, WI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Madison, WI ranks #34 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 |
| 34 | Madison, WI | $60,830 | $49,161 | $50,532 |
*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 Wisconsin
- Appleton, WI — $60,350
- Green Bay, WI — $60,270
- Fond du Lac, WI — $57,700
- Milwaukee, WI — $60,320
- Racine, WI — $57,720
- Sheboygan, WI — $55,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Madison, WI?
The median machinist salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $60,830 a year, or about $29.25 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,020 and $68,190.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $60,830 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $49,161 a year ($4,097 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,895 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,532 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #34 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,700
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $59,530
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $53,940
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $52,980
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $49,920
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $47,430
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $47,360
- Printing Press Operator — $47,020
- Food Batchmaker — $46,580
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $46,460
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $45,980
- Production Workers, All Other — $45,690