Machinists pay in California
In California, the median pay for machinists is $27.49 an hour ($57,190 a year). About 18,950 people work in this job there.
That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($58,750). California ranks 37th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for machinists in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $18.00 | $37,440 |
| 25% of workers | $22.29 | $46,360 |
| Half of workers (median) | $27.49 | $57,190 |
| 75% of workers | $35.68 | $74,210 |
| 90% of workers | $42.44 | $88,280 |
Machinists pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $67,750 | 1,610 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $63,540 | 1,370 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $61,420 | 2,180 |
| Vallejo | $59,850 | 150 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $58,690 | 130 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $57,900 | 600 |
| Yuba City | $56,820 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $56,530 | 540 |
| Salinas | $56,490 | 90 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $56,200 | 230 |
| Modesto | $55,950 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $55,660 | 7,850 |
| Redding | $55,260 | 60 |
| Fresno | $54,580 | 300 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $53,510 | 120 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $51,420 | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $50,920 | 220 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $50,680 | 250 |
| Visalia | $49,750 | 130 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $49,440 | 1,810 |
| Merced | $47,130 | 40 |
| Chico | $46,580 | 40 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for machinists
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Long-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +1% over ten years, little or no change · about 26,100 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.