SOC 51-4041

CNC Machinist Salary in Winston-Salem, NC (2026)

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + NC
COL Index: 102.58 (+2.6% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 76.7% Realized
$38,598 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $50,350 $24.21/hr
Effective Tax Drag 17.34% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 12% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$8,731 $335.81/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $24.21 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$3,021/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$363/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$3,499
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$3,122
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$730
North Carolina Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$1,380
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$38,598 ($1,484.54 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Winston-Salem, NC CNC Machinist Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $50,350
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $36.2k 25th $42.5k Median: $50,350 50th (Median) $50.4k 75th $62.7k 90th $64.0k You: $50,350
10th (Entry) $36,180 $17.39/hr
25th (Junior) $42,470 $20.42/hr
50th (Median) $50,350 $24.21/hr
75th (Senior) $62,680 $30.13/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $64,010 $30.77/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for CNC Machinist in Winston-Salem, NC
1
CNC Operator TraineeMachine loading, part deburring, basic micrometer inspection
$30,853$14.83/hr · 0-2 Years
2
CNC MachinistG-code/M-code setups, CNC milling/turning, tooling offset adjustments
$46,279$22.25/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Senior CNC ProgrammerMastercam, multi-axis (5-axis) programming, CAD/CAM surface modeling
$61,706$29.67/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Machine Shop SupervisorProduction scheduling, quality auditing, machine fleet maintenance
$78,846$37.91/hr · 8+ Years
Scaled to the Winston-Salem, NC medianView National CNC Machinist Salary Data
Adjacent Career Pivots & National Pay Differences
Tool and Die Makers+$5,300/yr
National median: $64,050
Skill overlap: 94%
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators-$8,060/yr
National median: $50,690
Skill overlap: 93%
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic-$5,950/yr
National median: $52,800
Skill overlap: 93%
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic-$8,130/yr
National median: $50,620
Skill overlap: 86%
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Winston-Salem, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
38% of Net Income
⚠️ Cost-Burdened (Exceeds 30% Rule)
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,224/month Requires minimum annual gross of $48,960
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,332/month Requires minimum annual gross of $53,280
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.69/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $19.52/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Winston-Salem, NC.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$50,350-$8,731$38,598$1,484.54
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$59,791-$10,872$45,331$1,743.50
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$69,231-$13,013$52,064$2,002.46
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$78,672-$15,900$58,052$2,232.76
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$88,113-$18,928$63,897$2,457.59
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

CNC Machinist in Winston-Salem, NC: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and North Carolina tax codes.

Market Baseline
$50,350/yr
$24.21/hr · SOC 51-4041
Statutory Tax Drag
17.34% Effective
-$8,731 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
38% Net Pay
⚠️ Exceeds 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$1,993/mo
Post-$1,224/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 51-4041
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

CNC Machinist in Winston-Salem, NC: Market Snapshot

CNC Machinist roles in Winston-Salem, NC report a median annual wage of $50,350, 14.3% below the national median of $58,750. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $36,180 to $64,010, and HUD’s $1,224 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 29.2% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.69 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for CNC Machinist

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
Urban Honolulu, HI$84,410+67.6%
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL$82,690+64.2%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$80,620+60.1%
Barnstable Town, MA$77,650+54.2%
Lake Charles, LA$75,580+50.1%
Anchorage, AK$75,040+49.0%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$74,560+48.1%
Bismarck, ND$74,090+47.1%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$72,060+43.1%
Flagstaff, AZ$71,620+42.2%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Winston-Salem, NC

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$273,710$131.59/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$160,900$77.36/hr
Marketing Managers$160,570$77.20/hr
Fundraising Managers$158,460$76.18/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$155,200$74.62/hr
Financial Manager$155,030$74.53/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$148,710$71.50/hr
Public Relations Managers$140,680$67.63/hr
Human Resources Managers$137,110$65.92/hr
Sales Managers$132,550$63.73/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 361 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

CNC Machinist Salary in Winston-Salem, NC (2026) Overview

CNC Machinist median pay in Winston-Salem, NC is $50,350 a year ($24.21/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents & living wage.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a CNC Machinist in Winston-Salem, NC?

The median annual wage is $50,350 ($24.21 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $36,180 and $64,010. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a CNC Machinist in Winston-Salem, NC after taxes?

On the median wage of $50,350, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $41,136 a year ($3,428 a month) after $9,214 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 18.3%, using 2026 tax rules.