Machinist Salary in Seattle, WA
Machinists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $74,560 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,283 take-home, or $5,107 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,573
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,623
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,081
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$61,283
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Machinist pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,360 | $23.73 | $41,841 | $3,487 |
| 25th percentile | $61,460 | $29.55 | $51,563 | $4,297 |
| Median (50th) | $74,560 | $35.85 | $61,283 | $5,107 |
| 75th percentile | $88,280 | $42.44 | $70,935 | $5,911 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $110,790 | $53.26 | $86,771 | $7,231 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $74,560 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $61,283 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,144 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 about as common in Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $74,560 | $61,283 | $55,144 |
*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 Washington
- Spokane, WA — $60,480
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Seattle, WA?
The median machinist salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $74,560 a year, or about $35.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,460 and $88,280.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $74,560 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $61,283 a year ($5,107 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,144 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #9 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Tool and Die Maker — $116,850
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers — $110,470
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $109,600
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $99,010
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $80,460
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $76,800
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $67,230
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $66,240
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter — $65,980
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $64,020
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $63,030
- Butcher and Meat Cutter — $60,600