Machinists pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,090 or more. The middle half of machinists in Wilmington earn between $47,360 and $79,090.
- $39K10th
- $47K25th
- $63KMedian
- $79K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,550 | $5,129 | $29.59 |
| Median | $62,810 | $5,234 | $30.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,360 | $3,947 | $22.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,090 | $6,591 | $38.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Machinists in Wilmington earn 12% more than the North Carolina average ($54,880) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $61,550 | $62,810 | $38,700 | $79,090 | 180 |
| North Carolina | $54,880 | $55,230 | $37,110 | $75,570 | 8,330 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $61,550, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $49,688 a year, or $4,141 a month and $1,911 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $61,550 buys what about $63,834 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 2nd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Fayetteville pays the most ($64,270).
- Fayetteville$64,270
- Wilmington$61,550
- Rocky Mount$59,160
- Charlotte$58,820
- Raleigh$58,670
- Jacksonville$58,390
- Pinehurst$55,970
- Goldsboro$55,040
- Burlington$54,790
- Durham$54,620
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 Wilmington: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Wilmington?
$29.59 an hour on average, and $30.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $49,688 a year ($4,141 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,550.
Do machinists earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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