verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Machinist Salary in Tennessee

Median Annual in Tennessee
$49,600/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$23.85/hr
▼ 16% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Tennessee

groups Employed in TN
8,270
public U.S. Median
$58,750
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$53,989 #48 of 51

Machinist pay in Tennessee, explained

Machinists in Tennessee earn a median of $49,600 per year ($23.85 per hour), which is 16% below the national median of $58,750. Entry-level workers earn around $37,560, while the most experienced machinists reach about $70,430. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Tennessee.

Is $49,600 good pay in Tennessee?

Adjusted for Tennessee's cost of living (which runs 92% of the U.S. average), that $49,600 is worth about $53,989 in national buying power — ranking Tennessee #48 for real pay (vs #50 on the sticker number).

See the full Machinist Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Machinist pay by experience in Tennessee

Entry level (10th pct)
$37,560
$18.06/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$49,600
$23.85/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$70,430
$33.86/hr

Machinist pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs TN
Tennessee (here) $49,600 $53,989
Virginia $61,290 $60,621 −$11,690
Missouri $58,710 $64,646 −$9,110
Kentucky $58,660 $65,063 −$9,060
Alabama $55,560 $62,551 −$5,960
Mississippi $55,550 $63,885 −$5,950
North Carolina $55,230 $58,552 −$5,630
Georgia $52,610 $54,635 −$3,010
Arkansas $51,140 $58,824 −$1,540

Machinist in Tennessee: FAQ

How much do machinists make in Tennessee?

Machinists in Tennessee earn a median of $49,600 per year ($23.85 per hour), compared with $58,750 nationally.

Does Tennessee pay machinists well?

At $49,600, Tennessee pays 16% below the national median for machinists. An estimated 8,270 work in the state.

Machinist salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Tennessee