SOC 51-4041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Machinists — Southwest Minnesota
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Machinists in Southwest Minnesota, MN is $57,980 per year, close to the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Machinists in Southwest Minnesota, MN is $57,980 per year, close to the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $40,870 at the tenth percentile to more than $75,930 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $47,640 to $64,140.
Employment stands at 320, or 2.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Duluth leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $69,440. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 166th of 331 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,870 | −30.4% |
| 25th | $47,640 | −18.9% |
| Median (50th) | $57,980 | −1.3% |
| 75th | $64,140 | +9.2% |
| 90th | $75,930 | +29.2% |
| Mean | $57,600 | −2.0% |
Other metro areas in Minnesota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duluth | $69,440 | 330 | |
| 2 | St. Cloud | $62,230 | 460 | |
| 3 | Minneapolis | $62,070 | 9,420 | |
| 4 | Mankato | $61,120 | 160 | |
| 5 | Rochester | $57,770 | 270 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Minnesota sit close to the national average, so $57,980 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$57,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
98.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,803US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,980 a year, 1.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,870 to $75,930 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 320 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Duluth, at $69,440.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Machinists in Southwest Minnesota, MN?
The median annual wage is $57,980, or $27.87 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $58,750, so pay in Southwest Minnesota, MN is 1.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Southwest Minnesota, MN earns more than $75,930 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,870 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Duluth, at $69,440 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 320 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Minnesota, MN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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