Machinists Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $47,430 -15.5% vs national
Median hourly $22.80
10th percentile $30,820
90th percentile $66,360
Employed locally 340
National median $56,150

Compare Machinists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Columbia, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Machinists
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,820
    25th
    $33,290
    50th (median)
    $47,430
    75th
    $61,820
    90th
    $66,360

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Machinists salary vs area income 72% Median Machinists salary is 28% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Machinists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $101,810
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $85,530
    Bloomington, IL $81,240
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $80,150
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $78,580
    Barnstable Town, MA $77,650

    Nearby metros — Machinists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $80,150
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $66,320
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $64,080
    Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $62,300
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $59,260
    Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $58,760

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $39,150
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $46,710
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,920
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $38,280
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $36,130
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $48,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Machinists make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Machinists in Columbia, SC is $22.80, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $36.02 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Machinists salaries?

    The median Machinists salary in Columbia, SC is 15.5% below the national median of $56,150. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Machinists in Columbia?

    Entry-level Machinists (10th percentile) earn around $30,820 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $33,290.