Machinists Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $56,070 -0.1% vs national
Median hourly $26.96
10th percentile $40,570
90th percentile $74,380
Employed locally 240
National median $56,150

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Machinists
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Des Moines, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,570
    25th
    $48,700
    50th (median)
    $56,070
    75th
    $63,720
    90th
    $74,380

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Machinists salary vs area income 67% Median Machinists salary is 33% 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
    District of Columbia $101,810
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $74,780
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $64,510
    Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $61,970
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $61,290
    Virginia $60,920

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $43,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $69,590
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,200
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $50,950
    Butchers and Meat Cutters $36,140
    Bakers $36,460

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Machinists make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Machinists in Des Moines, IA is $26.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.76 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Machinists salaries?

    The median Machinists salary in Des Moines, IA is 0.1% 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 Des Moines?

    Entry-level Machinists (10th percentile) earn around $40,570 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $48,700.