Machinist Salary in New Orleans, LA
Machinists in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area earn a median $66,990 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,334 take-home, or $4,528 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in New Orleans, LA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,908
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,153
- Medicare (1.45%)$971
- Louisiana income tax$1,623
- Take-home pay$54,334
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 3.00% state
Machinist pay by experience in New Orleans, LA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,340 | $21.32 | $36,863 | $3,072 |
| 25th percentile | $54,490 | $26.20 | $44,714 | $3,726 |
| Median (50th) | $66,990 | $32.21 | $54,334 | $4,528 |
| 75th percentile | $82,040 | $39.44 | $64,470 | $5,373 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,160 | $49.60 | $78,695 | $6,558 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Louisiana resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,990 buys in New Orleans, LA
Prices in New Orleans, LA are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 14% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $54,334 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,678 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 New Orleans, LA than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
New Orleans, LA ranks #2 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 |
*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 Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, LA — $67,700
- Lafayette, LA — $59,830
- Houma, LA — $55,560
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in New Orleans, LA?
The median machinist salary in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $66,990 a year, or about $32.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $54,490 and $82,040.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in New Orleans, LA?
On the median $66,990 salary, a single filer living in Louisiana takes home about $54,334 a year ($4,528 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,623 in Louisiana taxes in 2026.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,678 would in a typical U.S. city. New Orleans, LA ranks #2 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in New Orleans, LA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New Orleans, LA is $1,105 a month ($1,323 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in New Orleans, LA
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers — $107,490
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $94,450
- Chemical Plant and System Operator — $92,260
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,990
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $63,270
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $60,360
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $49,930
- Production Workers, All Other — $44,520
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,990
- Helpers--Production Worker — $39,250
- Food Processing Workers, All Other — $30,430
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker — $29,960