Machinist Salary in Richmond, VA
Machinists in the Richmond, VA metro area earn a median $62,650 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,731 take-home, or $4,144 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Richmond, VA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,338
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,884
- Medicare (1.45%)$908
- Virginia income tax$2,788
- Take-home pay$49,731
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.75% state
Machinist pay by experience in Richmond, VA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,890 | $22.54 | $37,974 | $3,165 |
| 25th percentile | $58,150 | $27.96 | $46,374 | $3,865 |
| Median (50th) | $62,650 | $30.12 | $49,731 | $4,144 |
| 75th percentile | $80,490 | $38.70 | $61,641 | $5,137 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $95,800 | $46.06 | $71,531 | $5,961 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Virginia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,650 buys in Richmond, VA
Prices in Richmond, VA are 2.1% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $49,731 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,820 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 Richmond, VA than nationally (location quotient 0.53), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Richmond, VA ranks #31 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 |
| 31 | Richmond, VA | $62,650 | $49,731 | $50,820 |
*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 Virginia
- Lynchburg, VA — $61,140
- Virginia Beach, VA — $62,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Richmond, VA?
The median machinist salary in the Richmond, VA metro area is $62,650 a year, or about $30.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $58,150 and $80,490.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Richmond, VA?
On the median $62,650 salary, a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $49,731 a year ($4,144 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,788 in Virginia taxes in 2026.
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 2.1% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,820 would in a typical U.S. city. Richmond, VA ranks #31 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Richmond, VA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Richmond, VA is $1,505 a month ($1,653 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Richmond, VA
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $73,630
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $61,840
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $57,710
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $49,980
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $48,710
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,310
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers — $48,170
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $44,180
- Printing Press Operator — $44,110
- Helpers--Production Worker — $40,450
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $40,120
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $39,060