Substitute John Miles struck decisively with the game's only goal eight minutes from time to give Brian Horton's men a hard-fought, but ultimately deserved victory over a home side that badly missed the cutting edge of suspended striker Luke Rodgers.
Without Rodgers, Kelvin Langmead cut a lonely figure up front for the home side, who were unable to put Macclesfield under pressure for any length of time and, as a result, goalscoring opportunities were at a premium.
Indeed, both sides were shot-shy during an often untidy first half during which Shrewsbury could not muster a single effort on target, while Macclesfield produced two, neither seriously troubling Shrews' goalkeeper Scott Howie.
In the 53rd minute Shrewsbury did finally manage an effort on goal as Ryan Lowe saw his curling free-kick hacked away by Matthew Carragher, while 12 minutes later Macclesfield goalkeeper Alan Fettis was finally forced into making a save, diving to smother an effort from Shrewsbury winger Sam Aiston.
At the other end John Parkin brought a smart save from Howie and he was the creator when Macclesfield secured all three points in the 82nd minute.
When the Shrewsbury defence failed to clear a free-kick, Graham Potter played the ball back into the danger area where Parkin nudged the ball into the path of Miles, whose shot took a deflection off Shrewsbury central defender Dave Walton as it wrong-footed Howie and bounced into the net.
Despite striving hard for a leveller, Shrewsbury never looked capable of breaking down a resolute Macclesfield rearguard, as the visitors made their way comfortably to the final whistle.