Machinist Salary in Memphis, TN
Machinists in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn a median $59,220 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,763 take-home, or $4,147 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Memphis, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,926
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,672
- Medicare (1.45%)$859
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,763
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro spans Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Machinist pay by experience in Memphis, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,630 | $19.05 | $34,023 | $2,835 |
| 25th percentile | $48,600 | $23.37 | $41,230 | $3,436 |
| Median (50th) | $59,220 | $28.47 | $49,763 | $4,147 |
| 75th percentile | $65,490 | $31.49 | $54,801 | $4,567 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,340 | $35.74 | $61,128 | $5,094 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,220 buys in Memphis, TN
Prices in Memphis, TN are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 20% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $49,763 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,985 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 Memphis, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Memphis, TN ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Memphis, TN | $59,220 | $49,763 | $53,985 |
*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 Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $57,890
- Chattanooga, TN — $51,540
- Knoxville, TN — $49,900
- Nashville, TN — $51,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Memphis, TN?
The median machinist salary in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area is $59,220 a year, or about $28.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,600 and $65,490.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Memphis, TN?
On the median $59,220 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $49,763 a year ($4,147 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Memphis, TN a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,985 would in a typical U.S. city. Memphis, TN ranks #11 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Memphis, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Memphis, TN is $1,137 a month ($1,263 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Memphis, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $65,990
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $59,270
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $52,440
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $51,140
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $50,470
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $48,600
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $46,050
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $44,910
- Printing Press Operator — $43,450
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $42,570
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $39,880
- Helpers--Production Worker — $39,240