Machinists Salary
The median pay for a machinists in Alaska is $77,670/year ($37.34/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $74,461 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,643/month, about 30.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Alaska?
About machinists
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for machinists, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,643/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level machinists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $55K spread from bottom to top.
Machinists salary by metro in Alaska
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $75K | -3% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track machinists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a machinist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 31.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for machinists in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new machinists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,054/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 54% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is machinist a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $78K here vs. $59K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for machinists?
Alaska pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do machinists make in Alaska?
The median is $77,670 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,900, and experienced machinists can clear $105,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,252/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 31.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a machinists salary go in Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median machinists salary is worth about $74,461 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do machinists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.