Machinists Salary in California
Machinists in California earn a median annual wage of $57,190 —2.7% below the national median of $58,750. That ranks CA #37 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment is only 0.56× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Highest-paying states for machinists
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $84,410 | $40.58 | 260 | 0.22 |
| 2 | Alaska | $77,670 | $37.34 | 120 | 0.20 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $72,900 | $35.05 | 160 | 0.12 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $67,270 | $32.34 | 7,080 | 1.05 |
| 5 | Washington | $66,160 | $31.81 | 6,880 | 1.05 |
| 6 | Oregon | $63,820 | $30.68 | 2,760 | 0.76 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $63,190 | $30.38 | 3,210 | 0.41 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $63,070 | $30.32 | 290 | 0.55 |
| 9 | Vermont | $62,680 | $30.14 | 220 | 0.40 |
| 10 | Delaware | $62,650 | $30.12 | 310 | 0.34 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $47,720 | $44,650 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,840 | $74,450 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $48,570 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,060 | $53,750 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $43,220 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $40,110 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do machinists make in California?
The median annual wage for machinists in California is $57,190, or $27.49 per hour. That is 2.7% below the national median of $58,750.
What is the entry-level machinists salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,440 per year ($18.00/hour). The 25th percentile is $46,360.
How many people work as machinists in California?
About 18,950 people work in this occupation in California, or 1.0 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for machinists?
California ranks #37 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.56x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in California.
Which state pays machinists the most?
Hawaii has the highest median wage at $84,410 per year, followed by Alaska ($77,670) and District of Columbia ($72,900).