Machinists Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $55,460 -1.2% vs national
Median hourly $26.66
10th percentile $39,790
90th percentile $73,750
Employed locally 180
National median $56,150

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Machinists
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,790
    25th
    $47,990
    50th (median)
    $55,460
    75th
    $64,990
    90th
    $73,750

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Machinists salary vs area income 68% Median Machinists salary is 32% 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
    Anchorage, AK $73,130
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $66,320
    Fayetteville, NC $62,590
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $62,350
    Lynchburg, VA $61,710

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $42,040
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $48,770
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $76,930
    Production Workers, All Other $48,460
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,740
    Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers $31,490

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Machinists make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Machinists in Durham, NC is $26.66, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $34.37 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Machinists salaries?

    The median Machinists salary in Durham, NC is 1.2% 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 Durham?

    Entry-level Machinists (10th percentile) earn around $39,790 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,990.