Machine Tool Manufacturing — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the machine tool manufacturing industry earns $74,624 per year ($35.88/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Machine Tool Manufacturing Workers Earn?
At $74,624/year (equivalent to $35.88/hour for a full-time worker), machine tool manufacturing wages are near the national average of ~$65,000.
The typical machine tool manufacturing business employs 20 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average machine tool manufacturing business generating $7.3M/year with 20 employees at $74,624 each, total payroll represents roughly 20.4% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a machine tool manufacturingbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $97,011/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 20 employees = ~$1,492,480/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $35.88/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $7.3M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Machine Tool Manufacturing revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do machine tool manufacturing employees make?
- The average machine tool manufacturing employee earns $74,624 per year, which is equivalent to $35.88/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the machine tool manufacturing industry?
- The machine tool manufacturing industry employs 42,572 workers across 2,091 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 20 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).