verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Machinist Salary in California

Median Annual in California
$57,190/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$27.49/hr
▼ 3% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in California

groups Employed in CA
18,950
public U.S. Median
$58,750
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$51,653 #51 of 51

Machinist pay in California, explained

Machinists in California earn a median of $57,190 per year ($27.49 per hour), which is 3% below the national median of $58,750. Entry-level workers earn around $37,440, while the most experienced machinists reach about $88,280. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within California.

Is $57,190 good pay in California?

Adjusted for California's cost of living (which runs 111% of the U.S. average), that $57,190 is worth about $51,653 in national buying power — ranking California #51 for real pay (vs #37 on the sticker number).

See the full Machinist Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Machinist pay by experience in California

Entry level (10th pct)
$37,440
$18.00/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$57,190
$27.49/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$88,280
$42.44/hr

Machinist pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs CA
California (here) $57,190 $51,653
Oregon $63,820 $61,745 −$6,630
Arizona $61,080 $60,669 −$3,890
Nevada $53,050 $53,061 +$4,140

Machinist in California: FAQ

How much do machinists make in California?

Machinists in California earn a median of $57,190 per year ($27.49 per hour), compared with $58,750 nationally.

Does California pay machinists well?

At $57,190, California pays 3% below the national median for machinists. An estimated 18,950 work in the state.

Machinist salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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