Machinist Salary in Winston, NC
Machinists in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area earn a median $50,350 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,136 take-home, or $3,428 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Winston, NC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,862
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,122
- Medicare (1.45%)$730
- North Carolina income tax$1,500
- Take-home pay$41,136
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.99% state
Machinist pay by experience in Winston, NC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,180 | $17.39 | $30,316 | $2,526 |
| 25th percentile | $42,470 | $20.42 | $35,119 | $2,927 |
| Median (50th) | $50,350 | $24.21 | $41,136 | $3,428 |
| 75th percentile | $62,680 | $30.13 | $50,551 | $4,213 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,010 | $30.77 | $51,567 | $4,297 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, North Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,350 buys in Winston, NC
Prices in Winston, NC are 8.0% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 29% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $41,136 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,692 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Winston, NC has 1.8× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Winston, NC ranks #97 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 |
| 97 | Winston, NC | $50,350 | $41,136 | $44,692 |
*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
- Raleigh, NC — $61,430
- Charlotte, NC — $60,210
- Greensboro, NC — $52,270
- Asheville, NC — $53,110
- Hickory, NC — $43,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Winston, NC?
The median machinist salary in the Winston-Salem, NC metro area is $50,350 a year, or about $24.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,470 and $62,680.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Winston, NC?
On the median $50,350 salary, a single filer living in North Carolina takes home about $41,136 a year ($3,428 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,500 in North Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Winston, NC a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 8.0% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,692 would in a typical U.S. city. Winston, NC ranks #97 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Winston, NC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Winston, NC is $1,031 a month ($1,164 for two bedrooms) — 30% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Winston, NC
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $68,670
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $46,370
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $44,700
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $42,590
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $41,100
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $39,450
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $38,730
- Production Workers, All Other — $37,980
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $37,070
- Baker — $33,640
- Sewing Machine Operator — $30,150