Machinists Salary
The median pay for a machinists in Colorado is $60,200/year ($28.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Colorado?
About machinists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level machinists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Machinists salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $64K | +6% | 240 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $62K | +2% | 480 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $61K | +1% | 1,050 |
| Greeley | $58K | -3% | 260 |
| Colorado Springs | $58K | -4% | 380 |
| Pueblo | $57K | -5% | 90 |
| Grand Junction | $49K | -18% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track machinists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a machinist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 51.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for machinists in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new machinists typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,679/month.
Is machinist a high-paying job in Colorado?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for machinists?
Colorado pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +2%.
How much do machinists make in Colorado?
The median is $60,200 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,650, and experienced machinists can clear $84,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,980/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 51.4% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median machinists salary is worth about $60,200 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.