Machinist Salary in Washington, DC
Machinists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $68,850 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,237 take-home, or $4,520 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,317
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,269
- Medicare (1.45%)$998
- District of Columbia income tax$3,029
- Take-home pay$54,237
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Machinist pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,820 | $23.47 | $39,644 | $3,304 |
| 25th percentile | $55,540 | $26.70 | $44,640 | $3,720 |
| Median (50th) | $68,850 | $33.10 | $54,237 | $4,520 |
| 75th percentile | $95,130 | $45.74 | $70,636 | $5,886 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,750 | $54.69 | $82,153 | $6,846 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $68,850 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $54,237 take-home pay has the buying power of $49,812 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 Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.11), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #45 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 |
| 45 | Washington, DC | $68,850 | $54,237 | $49,812 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Washington, DC?
The median machinist salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $68,850 a year, or about $33.10 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $55,540 and $95,130.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $68,850 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $54,237 a year ($4,520 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,029 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $49,812 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #45 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator — $91,480
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $77,990
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $73,600
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $72,660
- Prepress Technician and Worker — $70,670
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $61,820
- Dental Laboratory Technician — $61,250
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $60,670
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $57,900
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $57,660
- Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter — $54,890
- Printing Press Operator — $49,490