Machinists Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$37,440
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,360
- 50th Percentile — Median$57,190
- 75th Percentile — Senior$74,210
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$88,280
Half of Machinists in California earn more than $57,190. The top 10% make $88,280 or more, while entry-level workers start around $37,440.
Machinists in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 22nd of 51 states for Machinists pay, at $61,380 per year (3.5% above the U.S. average of $59,320).
- 18,950 people work as Machinists in California — 6.6% of all U.S. Machinists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.56: Machinists jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,440; the top 10% earn over $88,280.
- Hourly equivalent: $29.51 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $81,610.
- Among manufacturing jobs in California, First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers pays the most ($82,000).
Machinists Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Machinists here earn $61,380 on average, placing the state 22nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $61,380 is roughly equivalent to $43,225 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New York ($61,910), Utah ($61,800), Montana ($61,530) are the closest alternatives for Machinists 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 +33.6% vs this role
- Aircraft Structure Assemblers $69,050/yr California +12.5% vs this role
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters $58,160/yr California 5.2% vs this role
- Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Operators $57,400/yr California 6.5% vs this role
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers $52,850/yr California 13.9% vs this role
- Cutting Machine Operators $51,620/yr California 15.9% vs this role
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $51,060/yr California 16.8% vs this role
- Printing Press Operators $48,370/yr California 21.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Machinists salary in California?
The average Machinists salary in California is $61,380 per year (median $57,190), which is 3.5% above the national average of $59,320.
How does California rank for Machinists pay?
California ranks 22nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($81,610/yr).
How much do entry-level Machinists make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Machinists in California earn about $37,440 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,360.
How much do Machinists make per hour in California?
About $29.51 per hour, based on the $61,380 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Machinists work in California?
BLS counts 18,950 Machinists jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data