Machinists pay range in Bowling Green
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,180 or more. The middle half of machinists in Bowling Green earn between $50,810 and $60,000.
- $40K10th
- $51K25th
- $52KMedian
- $60K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,260 | $4,605 | $26.57 |
| Median | $51,730 | $4,311 | $24.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,810 | $4,234 | $24.43 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,000 | $5,000 | $28.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Bowling Green vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Machinists in Bowling Green earn 7% less than the Kentucky average ($59,560) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $55,260 | $51,730 | $40,050 | $66,180 | 260 |
| Kentucky | $59,560 | $58,660 | $39,070 | $78,020 | 6,040 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in Bowling Green
On the average salary of $55,260, a single filer in Bowling Green takes home about $43,660 a year, or $3,638 a month and $1,679 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Is Bowling Green a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Bowling Green area are 10% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.2), so the average $55,260 buys what about $61,278 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Bowling Green ($45,040). A typical home costs $267,047, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other Kentucky cities
Bowling Green ranks 3rd of 5 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Paducah pays the most ($63,540).
- Paducah$63,540
- Louisville$60,750
- Bowling Green$55,260
- Elizabethtown$54,310
- Owensboro$54,120
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in Bowling Green: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Bowling Green?
$26.57 an hour on average, and $24.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Bowling Green?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Bowling Green?
About $43,660 a year ($3,638 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,260. Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
Do machinists earn more in Bowling Green than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4041; area Bowling Green, KY (14540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Bowling Green's local income tax (2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.74, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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