Salary guide, May 2025

Lead Machinist pay in North Carolina

Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.

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The median annual wage for Machinists in North Carolina was $55,230 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $45,300 and $62,680.

The North Carolina median is $3,520 below the national median of $58,750, both from BLS May 2025.

Direct match · SOC 51-4041 Machinists

The Lead Machinist title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.

What should you know about north Carolina?

Machinists in North Carolina: median $55,230; published 25th to 75th percentile $45,300 to $62,680.

Annual wage percentiles, North Carolina
10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
$37,110	$45,300	$55,230	$62,680	$75,570

Machinists in North Carolina: median $26.56; published 25th to 75th percentile $21.78 to $30.13.

Hourly wage percentiles, North Carolina
10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
$17.84	$21.78	$26.56	$30.13	$36.33

BLS estimated 8,330 workers employed in this occupation in North Carolina. Location quotient: 0.91.

What should you know about united States?

Machinists in U.S.: median $58,750; published 25th to 75th percentile $47,570 to $67,700.

Annual wage percentiles, U.S.
10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
$39,200	$47,570	$58,750	$67,700	$80,010

Machinists in U.S.: median $28.24; published 25th to 75th percentile $22.87 to $32.55.

Hourly wage percentiles, U.S.
10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
$18.85	$22.87	$28.24	$32.55	$38.47

What should you know about two BLS releases?

Lead Machinist in North Carolina, annual wages, May 2024 and May 2025
Release period	25th	Median	75th
May 2024	$45,640	$55,520	$61,850
May 2025	$45,300	$55,230	$62,680

These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4041 Machinists, North Carolina. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4041 Machinists, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.

What should you know about nearby areas?

Nearby areas, Lead Machinist
Area	Median	25th to 75th
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC	$53,840	$53,840 to $64,120
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$50,740	$45,760 to $62,040

All roles in North Carolina · National page · Lead Machinist ranked across metros