Electrician vs Machinist
Side-by-side salary, job growth, and training comparison for 2026
Electrician
$62,350
National Median Salary
Total Jobs818,700
Annual Openings79,900
Training4-5 yr apprenticeship
Machinist
$51,720
National Median Salary
Total Jobs384,700
Annual Openings35,400
Training1-2 yr certificate or apprenticeship
Metric
Electrician
Machinist
Median Salary National, BLS 2023 | $62,350* | $51,720 |
Total Jobs Current employment | 818,700* | 384,700 |
Annual Job Openings New + replacement | 79,900* | 35,400 |
Training Time | 4-5 yr apprenticeship | 1-2 yr certificate or apprenticeship |
* indicates higher/better value. Source: BLS OES 2023.
Top States for Electricians
Illinois$95,340
New York$91,870
Hawaii$87,530
Oregon$84,210
Alaska$82,990
Top States for Machinists
Alaska$78,430
Connecticut$74,890
Washington$72,340
California$70,120
Massachusetts$68,450