Cutting Machine Operators Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$37,090
- 25th Percentile — Junior$43,710
- 50th Percentile — Median$48,450
- 75th Percentile — Senior$58,450
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$68,500
Half of Cutting Machine Operators in California earn more than $48,450. The top 10% make $68,500 or more, while entry-level workers start around $37,090.
Cutting Machine Operators in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 7th of 49 states for Cutting Machine Operators pay, at $51,620 per year (6.6% above the U.S. average of $48,430).
- 7,710 people work as Cutting Machine Operators in California — 4.5% of all U.S. Cutting Machine Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.38: Cutting Machine Operators jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,090; the top 10% earn over $68,500.
- Hourly equivalent: $24.82 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Oregon at $55,390.
- Among manufacturing jobs in California, First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers pays the most ($82,000).
Cutting Machine Operators Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Cutting Machine Operators here earn $51,620 on average, placing the state 7th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $51,620 is roughly equivalent to $36,352 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Colorado ($55,080), Maine ($52,050), Michigan ($51,880) are the closest alternatives for Cutting Machine Operators weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Manufacturing Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers $82,000/yr California +58.9% vs this role
- Aircraft Structure Assemblers $69,050/yr California +33.8% vs this role
- Machinists $61,380/yr California +18.9% vs this role
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters $58,160/yr California +12.7% vs this role
- Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Operators $57,400/yr California +11.2% vs this role
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers $52,850/yr California +2.4% vs this role
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $51,060/yr California 1.1% vs this role
- Printing Press Operators $48,370/yr California 6.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cutting Machine Operators salary in California?
The average Cutting Machine Operators salary in California is $51,620 per year (median $48,450), which is 6.6% above the national average of $48,430.
How does California rank for Cutting Machine Operators pay?
California ranks 7th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is Oregon ($55,390/yr).
How much do entry-level Cutting Machine Operators make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cutting Machine Operators in California earn about $37,090 per year and the 25th percentile is $43,710.
How much do Cutting Machine Operators make per hour in California?
About $24.82 per hour, based on the $51,620 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cutting Machine Operators work in California?
BLS counts 7,710 Cutting Machine Operators jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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