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Salary comparison

Machinists vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers: Who Earns More?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss out-earn Machinistss by $16K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Machinistss land at $58,750 and First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss at $74,450. The education gap is real: machinist programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while first-line supervisors of production and operating worker programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Machinistss is Hawaii ($84,410); for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss it's Wyoming ($90,390).

Machinists
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Median salary
$58,750
$74,450
Hourly rate
$28.24/hr
$35.79/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$39,200
$47,130
Senior level (90th %)
$80,010
$108,750
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
287,050
673,430
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Production & Manufacturing
Top-paying state
Hawaii
Wyoming

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Machinists median pay.

State
Machinists
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers
Alaska
$77,670
$77,960
District of Columbia
$72,900
$80,030
Massachusetts
$67,270
$79,920
Washington
$66,160
$79,310
New Jersey
$63,190
$81,110
Wyoming
$63,070
$90,390
Delaware
$62,650
$79,100
Connecticut
$62,130
$83,150
New Hampshire
$61,500
$79,310
Minnesota
$61,140
$78,550
New York
$60,920
$78,580
Colorado
$60,200
$78,890
Maryland
$59,810
$78,520
Maine
$59,160
$78,970
Rhode Island
$57,760
$81,650

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Machinistss or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss?

First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss earn more nationally. The median is $58,750 for Machinistss versus $74,450 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss, a difference of $16K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Machinists or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Machinists or First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers?

Machinists typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Machinistss get paid the most?

Hawaii is the top-paying state for Machinistss at $84,410/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Machinists vs. First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Machinistss earn $77,670 vs. $77,960 for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Machinists salary breakdownView →Full First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Machinistss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a machinistsGuide →How to become a first-line supervisors of production and operating workersGuide →