Machinist salary in California
Machinists in California earn a median of $57,190 a year ($27.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 18,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,280 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $58,750. California ranks 37th of 51 states for machinists pay. There are 1.0 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $61,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 25th percentile | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| Median | $57,190 | $27.49 |
| 75th percentile | $74,210 | $35.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,280 | $42.44 |
| Average (mean) | $61,380 | $29.51 |
Half of machinists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,765.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,382.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,199.62 |
| Weekly | $1,099.81 |
| Hourly | $27.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Machinist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $67,750 | 1,610 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $63,540 | 1,370 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $61,420 | 2,180 |
| Vallejo, CA | $59,850 | 150 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $58,690 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $57,900 | 600 |
| Yuba City, CA | $56,820 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $56,530 | 540 |
| Salinas, CA | $56,490 | 90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $56,200 | 230 |
| Modesto, CA | $55,950 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $55,660 | 7,850 |
| Redding, CA | $55,260 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $54,580 | 300 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $53,510 | 120 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $51,420 | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $50,920 | 220 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $50,680 | 250 |
| Visalia, CA | $49,750 | 130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49,440 | 1,810 |
| Merced, CA | $47,130 | 40 |
| Chico, CA | $46,580 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for machinists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 |
| Alaska | $77,670 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| Oregon | $63,820 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 |
| Vermont | $62,680 |
| Delaware | $62,650 |
Related jobs in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in California?
The median salary for machinists in California is $57,190 a year, or $27.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in California?
The top 10% of machinists in California earn at least $88,280 a year. The top 25% earn $74,210 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,440 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $46,360 or less.
How many machinists work in California?
About 18,950 machinists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.