Machinist Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
Machinists in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area earn a median $55,880 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,364 take-home, or $3,780 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Pittsburgh, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,526
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,465
- Medicare (1.45%)$810
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,716
- Take-home pay$45,364
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Machinist pay by experience in Pittsburgh, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,930 | $18.72 | $32,265 | $2,689 |
| 25th percentile | $47,330 | $22.75 | $38,757 | $3,230 |
| Median (50th) | $55,880 | $26.87 | $45,364 | $3,780 |
| 75th percentile | $61,860 | $29.74 | $49,985 | $4,165 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,540 | $35.84 | $58,981 | $4,915 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $55,880 buys in Pittsburgh, PA
Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 5.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $45,364 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,918 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pittsburgh, PA 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
Pittsburgh, PA ranks #63 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 |
| 63 | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,880 | $45,364 | $47,918 |
*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 Pennsylvania
- Reading, PA — $59,550
- Erie, PA — $55,120
- Philadelphia, PA — $61,280
- Allentown, PA — $59,330
- Lancaster, PA — $56,700
- York, PA — $53,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median machinist salary in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area is $55,880 a year, or about $26.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,330 and $61,860.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Pittsburgh, PA?
On the median $55,880 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $45,364 a year ($3,780 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,716 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 5.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,918 would in a typical U.S. city. Pittsburgh, PA ranks #63 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Pittsburgh, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,058 a month ($1,281 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Pittsburgh, PA
- Gas Plant Operator — $81,600
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,690
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $69,150
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $65,480
- Tool and Die Maker — $61,160
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $60,820
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $58,770
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $57,030
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $53,610
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $51,030
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,090
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,760