Machinist Salary in Raleigh, NC
Machinists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median $61,430 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,597 take-home, or $4,133 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Raleigh, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,192
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,809
- Medicare (1.45%)$891
- North Carolina income tax$1,942
- Take-home pay$49,597
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Machinist pay by experience in Raleigh, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,940 | $19.20 | $33,187 | $2,766 |
| 25th percentile | $49,040 | $23.58 | $40,136 | $3,345 |
| Median (50th) | $61,430 | $29.53 | $49,597 | $4,133 |
| 75th percentile | $65,160 | $31.33 | $52,445 | $4,370 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,020 | $34.63 | $57,131 | $4,761 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,430 buys in Raleigh, NC
Prices in Raleigh, NC are 1.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.03× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $49,597 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,528 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 Raleigh, NC than nationally (location quotient 0.42), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Raleigh, NC ranks #35 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 |
| 35 | Raleigh, NC | $61,430 | $49,597 | $50,528 |
*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 North Carolina
- Charlotte, NC — $60,210
- Greensboro, NC — $52,270
- Asheville, NC — $53,110
- Winston, NC — $50,350
- Hickory, NC — $43,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Raleigh, NC?
The median machinist salary in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $61,430 a year, or about $29.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,040 and $65,160.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Raleigh, NC?
On the median $61,430 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $49,597 a year ($4,133 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,942 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Raleigh, NC a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 1.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,528 would in a typical U.S. city. Raleigh, NC ranks #35 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Raleigh, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Raleigh, NC is $1,596 a month ($1,750 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Raleigh, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $75,230
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $56,940
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,460
- Food Processing Workers, All Other — $48,600
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $48,520
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $48,480
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $45,210
- Production Workers, All Other — $39,510
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $39,020
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $38,080
- Baker — $36,210
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker — $32,000