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Machinist apprenticeships: what they pay, state by state

U.S. Department of Labor records list 2,427 registered apprentices active across the 50 states and the District of Columbia in fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024) under the occupation titles DOL maps to machinists (SOC 51-4041). The file's fiscal 2024 records largely stop after February 2024. In fiscal 2023 (October 2022 to September 2023) the median starting wage of registered apprentices ran from $13.00 an hour in Ohio to $21.26 in Virginia, across the 4 states where 50 or more apprentices carry a starting wage DOL counts.

Active apprentices
2,427
50 states and DC, fiscal 2024
Starting wage, by state
$13.00 to $21.26
lowest and highest state median, fiscal 2023
Wage at completion, by state
$22.65 to $35.24
lowest and highest state median, fiscal 2023
All machinists, BLS
$28.24
national median an hour, May 2025

Apprentice counts and wages by state

The most are in Virginia (447), Pennsylvania (334), Michigan (230), Ohio (199), Washington (167). Among the apprentices who completed in fiscal 2023, the median wage at completion ran from $22.65 an hour in Virginia to $35.24 in Hawaii, across the 2 states with 50 or more exit wages DOL counts. A median is shown only where 50 or more apprentices carry the wage; the counts are shown for every state with an active apprentice in fiscal 2024.

StateActive, fiscal 2024Started, fiscal 2023Median starting wageMedian completing wageBLS median, May 2025
Virginia 447 173 $21.26 $22.65 $29.47
Pennsylvania 334 95 $20.00 fewer than 50 wages $27.79
Michigan 230 119 $17.83 fewer than 50 wages $25.17
Ohio 199 85 $13.00 fewer than 50 wages $27.86
Washington 167 44 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $31.81
Hawaii 148 44 fewer than 50 wages $35.24 $40.58
Indiana 94 41 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $27.79
Florida 80 15 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $27.47
Illinois 79 28 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.13
Alabama 63 22 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $26.71
Georgia 53 15 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $25.29
Texas 53 14 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.45
Kentucky 45 33 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.20
Missouri 41 13 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.23
Minnesota 36 12 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.39
Maine 34 13 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.44
New Hampshire 33 16 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.57
Mississippi 32 18 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $26.71
California 29 7 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $27.49
South Carolina 29 13 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $27.87
Iowa 27 9 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $27.66
Maryland 24 2 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.76
Tennessee 22 9 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $23.85
North Carolina 16 8 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $26.56
New York 15 6 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.29
Utah 15 8 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.46
Arizona 11 1 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.37
Louisiana 11 0 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.38
Arkansas 9 0 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $24.59
Idaho 6 3 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.28
New Jersey 6 9 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $30.38
West Virginia 6 2 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $22.77
Colorado 5 1 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.94
Delaware 5 1 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $30.12
Massachusetts 5 6 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $32.34
Wisconsin 5 3 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $28.42
Alaska 3 1 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $37.34
Kansas 3 3 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $24.63
Vermont 3 5 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $30.14
Montana 2 1 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $29.29
Nevada 1 0 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $25.51
South Dakota 1 0 fewer than 50 wages fewer than 50 wages $24.47

Hourly wages, most active apprentices first. The starting wage is the median across the apprentices who started in fiscal 2023 and the completing wage the median across those who completed it: two groups of people. The BLS figure is the wage survey's median for the occupation in the state, a different source and a different period, so read the two side by side and not as a ratio. Which wages DOL counts and how the state is assigned are on the data page. As a file: every trade and state with an active apprentice (CSV).

What those wages come to a week and a year, at your hours →

How the apprenticeship runs

Programs are typically sponsored by an employer and often combine paid on-the-job training with related technical instruction over several years; the instruction may be given with local community colleges and vocational-technical schools. Workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter. The federal Apprenticeship Finder searches apprenticeship openings by occupation and by city, state or ZIP code. Apprenticeship Finder →

BLS wording

“Some new workers enter apprenticeship programs, which are typically sponsored by an employer. Apprenticeship programs often consist of paid training on the job and related technical instruction lasting several years. The technical instruction may be provided in cooperation with local community colleges and vocational-technical schools. Workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter an apprenticeship.”

How long. Training on the job is the usual route, and the Handbook classes it as long-term on-the-job training; some community colleges and technical schools offer two-year degrees or shorter certificates, and apprenticeships often last several years.

BLS wording

“On-the-job Training Long-term on-the-job training ... Machinists and tool and die makers typically are trained on the job. ... Some community colleges and technical schools have 2-year degree programs or shorter nondegree certificate programs that train students to become machinists or tool and die makers. ... Apprenticeship programs often consist of paid training on the job and related technical instruction lasting several years.”

From the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machinists and Tool and Die Makers, read 2026-09-23. The steps in order and pay by state are on How to become a machinist.

Common questions

How much do apprentice machinists make?

In fiscal 2023 (October 2022 to September 2023) the median starting wage of registered apprentices ran from $13.00 an hour in Ohio to $21.26 in Virginia, across the 4 states where 50 or more apprentices carry a starting wage DOL counts. Among the apprentices who completed in fiscal 2023, the median wage at completion ran from $22.65 an hour in Virginia to $35.24 in Hawaii, across the 2 states with 50 or more exit wages DOL counts. The starters and the completers are different people, and the wages are in that year's dollars.

How long does it take to train as a machinist?

Training on the job is the usual route, and the Handbook classes it as long-term on-the-job training; some community colleges and technical schools offer two-year degrees or shorter certificates, and apprenticeships often last several years.

How many apprentice machinists are there?

U.S. Department of Labor records list 2,427 registered apprentices active across the 50 states and the District of Columbia in fiscal year 2024 (October 2023 to September 2024) under the occupation titles DOL maps to machinists (SOC 51-4041). The file's fiscal 2024 records largely stop after February 2024. The most are in Virginia (447), Pennsylvania (334), Michigan (230), Ohio (199), Washington (167).

Sources

Other trades: Electricians · Plumbers and pipefitters · HVAC technicians · Welders · Truck drivers (CDL) · Lineworkers (power-line installers) · Elevator installers · Ironworkers · Sheet metal workers · Carpenters · Brickmasons and blockmasons · Auto service technicians · Diesel mechanics · Heavy equipment operators. Or see every trade side by side.