California Median
$57,190
per year
Hourly Rate
$27.50
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $58,750
State Rank
#37 of 51
18,950 employed here
How much does a Machinist make in California?
Machinists in California take home a median of $57,190 annually — roughly $27.50 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $58,750.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $37,440 while the top 10% make $88,280 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,360 and $74,210 a year.
Machinist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,440 | $18.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $46,360 | $22.29 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,190 | $27.50 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $74,210 | $35.68 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,280 | $42.44 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories for Machinist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Machinist salary in other states
Hawaii $84,410Alaska $77,670District of Columbia $72,900Massachusetts $67,270Washington $66,160Oregon $63,820New Jersey $63,190Wyoming $63,070Vermont $62,680Delaware $62,650Connecticut $62,130North Dakota $61,820New Hampshire $61,500Virginia $61,290Utah $61,280Minnesota $61,140Louisiana $61,110Arizona $61,080Montana $60,920New York $60,920Colorado $60,200Maryland $59,810New Mexico $59,440Texas $59,180Maine $59,160Wisconsin $59,110Idaho $58,810Missouri $58,710Kentucky $58,660Illinois $58,520South Carolina $57,970Ohio $57,940Pennsylvania $57,810Indiana $57,800Rhode Island $57,760Iowa $57,540Florida $57,140Nebraska $55,860Alabama $55,560Mississippi $55,550North Carolina $55,230Nevada $53,050Georgia $52,610Michigan $52,360Kansas $51,220Arkansas $51,140Oklahoma $51,120South Dakota $50,890Tennessee $49,600West Virginia $47,350
Working as a Machinist in California
Nationally, about 287,000 people work as Machinists in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($57,190) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Machinist make in California?
The median Machinist salary in California is $57,190 per year, or about $27.50 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,440 at the entry level to $88,280 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Machinists about 3% less than the national median of $58,750. California ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Machinists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $57,190 a year. About 18,950 Machinists are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Machinist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.