A workpiece transfer apparatus for a press machine, comprising: workpiece retaining means which is supported by a crossbar extending to be approximately orthogonal to a workpiece transfer direction, and is capable of retaining and releasing a workpiece; guiding means for supporting and guiding the workpiece retaining means so that the workpiece retaining means is slidable along a longitudinal direction of the crossbar; driving means for driving the workpiece retaining means supported and guided by the guiding means so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar so that the workpiece retaining means is moved along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar; wherein the driving means includes an electric motor mounted approximately integrally with a workpiece retaining means side, characterized in that the workpiece transfer apparatus comprises brake means acting in a path different from a path of the driving means, the brake means being capable of fixing and releasing a position of the workpiece retaining means supported and guided by the guiding means so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the crossbar, wherein the brake means is mounted approximately integrally with the workpiece retaining means' side and allows a friction element to act on the crossbar so that the position of the workpiece retaining means can be fixed and released with respect to the longitudinal direction of the crossbar, and the driving means further include a pinion gear mounted to an output rotary shaft of the electric motor, and a rack gear meshed with the pinion gear and mounted approximately integrally with a crossbar side along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar. workpiece retaining means which is supported by a crossbar extending to be approximately orthogonal to a workpiece transfer direction, and is capable of retaining and releasing a workpiece; guiding means for supporting and guiding the workpiece retaining means so that the workpiece retaining means is slidable along a longitudinal direction of the crossbar; driving means for driving the workpiece retaining means supported and guided by the guiding means so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar so that the workpiece retaining means is moved along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar; wherein the driving means includes an electric motor mounted approximately integrally with a workpiece retaining means side, characterized in that the workpiece transfer apparatus comprises brake means acting in a path different from a path of the driving means, the brake means being capable of fixing and releasing a position of the workpiece retaining means supported and guided by the guiding means so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the crossbar, wherein the brake means is mounted approximately integrally with the workpiece retaining means' side and allows a friction element to act on the crossbar so that the position of the workpiece retaining means can be fixed and released with respect to the longitudinal direction of the crossbar, and the driving means further include a pinion gear mounted to an output rotary shaft of the electric motor, and a rack gear meshed with the pinion gear and mounted approximately integrally with a crossbar side along the longitudinal direction of the crossbar.