Automotive machinist around here are still stuck in the $12.00-$20.00 range depenending on the shop they work in.... The back room shops that just do boring, honing, and cylinder heads being on the low side and the race shops with the 5 axis equipment and the like being on the top end....

As Pat mentioned, if the work is there and you can stay at it, working on a percentage can also be a very good deal!!!!