Machinist Salary in Reading, PA
Machinists in the Reading, PA metro area earn a median $59,550 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,200 take-home, or $4,017 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Reading, PA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,966
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,692
- Medicare (1.45%)$863
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,828
- Take-home pay$48,200
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Machinist pay by experience in Reading, PA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,000 | $21.15 | $36,183 | $3,015 |
| 25th percentile | $49,420 | $23.76 | $40,372 | $3,364 |
| Median (50th) | $59,550 | $28.63 | $48,200 | $4,017 |
| 75th percentile | $65,020 | $31.26 | $52,427 | $4,369 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,400 | $35.29 | $58,214 | $4,851 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,550 buys in Reading, PA
Prices in Reading, PA are 2.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 15% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $48,200 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,660 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Reading, PA has 1.4× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Reading, PA ranks #50 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 |
| 50 | Reading, PA | $59,550 | $48,200 | $49,660 |
*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
- Erie, PA — $55,120
- Philadelphia, PA — $61,280
- Allentown, PA — $59,330
- Pittsburgh, PA — $55,880
- Lancaster, PA — $56,700
- York, PA — $53,290
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Reading, PA?
The median machinist salary in the Reading, PA metro area is $59,550 a year, or about $28.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,420 and $65,020.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Reading, PA?
On the median $59,550 salary, a single filer living in Pennsylvania takes home about $48,200 a year ($4,017 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,828 in Pennsylvania taxes in 2026.
Is Reading, PA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,660 would in a typical U.S. city. Reading, PA ranks #50 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Reading, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Reading, PA is $1,237 a month ($1,575 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Reading, PA
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $78,200
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $70,310
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $55,260
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $54,840
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $54,760
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $54,470
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $54,350
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $49,170
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,860
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $44,010