Machinist salary in California
Median $27.49 an hour for 18,950 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Machinist pay in California: the full range
California ranks 37th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 51st once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $24.83). 18,950 machinists work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.4× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.00 – $22.29 | $37,440 – $46,360 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.29 – $35.68 | $46,360 – $74,210 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $35.68 – $42.44 | $74,210 – $88,280 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in California
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $22.04 | $32.57 | $28.17 | $60.57 | 1,610 | 18% above |
| San Jose | $21.32 | $30.55 | $27.67 | $46.99 | 1,370 | 11% above |
| San Diego | $19.38 | $29.53 | $26.39 | $41.81 | 2,180 | 7% above |
| Vallejo | $22.54 | $28.77 | $26.52 | $44.99 | 150 | 5% above |
| Santa Maria | $19.54 | $28.21 | $25.93 | $43.22 | 130 | 3% above |
| Sacramento | $18.45 | $27.84 | $26.09 | $44.91 | 600 | 1% above |
| Yuba City | $17.55 | $27.32 | $26.22 | $51.38 | 30 | 1% below |
| Oxnard | $18.90 | $27.18 | $24.60 | $37.70 | 540 | 1% below |
| Salinas | $18.55 | $27.16 | $24.92 | $46.71 | 90 | 1% below |
| Santa Rosa | $18.90 | $27.02 | $25.06 | $38.65 | 230 | 2% below |
| Modesto | $19.23 | $26.90 | $25.84 | $36.25 | 140 | 2% below |
| Los Angeles | $17.78 | $26.76 | $23.56 | $38.61 | 7,850 | 3% below |
| Redding | $18.65 | $26.57 | $26.39 | $64.78 | 60 | 3% below |
| Fresno | $17.83 | $26.24 | $25.68 | $38.75 | 300 | 5% below |
| San Luis Obispo | $18.03 | $25.73 | $23.69 | $36.72 | 120 | 6% below |
| Santa Cruz | $18.58 | $24.72 | $22.49 | $44.30 | 70 | 10% below |
| Stockton | $17.33 | $24.48 | $23.29 | $36.85 | 220 | 11% below |
| Bakersfield | $17.09 | $24.36 | $24.14 | $44.40 | 250 | 11% below |
| Visalia | $17.14 | $23.92 | $23.97 | $34.38 | 130 | 13% below |
| Riverside | $17.30 | $23.77 | $22.34 | $37.27 | 1,810 | 14% below |
| Merced | $18.51 | $22.66 | $23.05 | $33.24 | 40 | 18% below |
| Chico | $17.92 | $22.39 | $22.12 | $56.00 | 40 | 19% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Machinist wages in California over time
Table
| Year | California $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.45 | $27.92 | $14.30 | 46,590 |
| 2000 | $14.40 | $26.92 | $14.78 | 51,340 |
| 2001 | $15.25 | $27.72 | $15.43 | 43,400 |
| 2002 | $15.62 | $27.95 | $15.66 | 39,610 |
| 2003 | $16.01 | $28.01 | $15.91 | 37,650 |
| 2004 | $16.70 | $28.46 | $16.33 | 34,790 |
| 2005 | $17.69 | $29.16 | $16.51 | 30,970 |
| 2006 | $17.68 | $28.23 | $16.71 | 31,460 |
| 2007 | $17.62 | $27.36 | $16.94 | 32,450 |
| 2008 | $17.32 | $25.90 | $17.41 | 35,020 |
| 2009 | $18.09 | $27.15 | $18.10 | 33,020 |
| 2010 | $18.51 | $27.33 | $18.52 | 30,080 |
| 2011 | $19.06 | $27.28 | $18.86 | 29,900 |
| 2012 | $19.01 | $26.66 | $18.99 | 32,040 |
| 2013 | $18.72 | $25.87 | $19.03 | 34,000 |
| 2014 | $18.77 | $25.53 | $19.22 | 34,490 |
| 2015 | $19.15 | $26.01 | $19.49 | 33,810 |
| 2016 | $20.32 | $27.26 | $20.05 | 34,860 |
| 2017 | $20.86 | $27.40 | $20.48 | 34,890 |
| 2018 | $21.67 | $27.78 | $20.97 | 36,530 |
| 2019 | $21.86 | $27.53 | $21.36 | 36,120 |
| 2020 | $22.40 | $27.86 | $22.04 | 34,730 |
| 2021 | $23.09 | $27.43 | $22.95 | 29,810 |
| 2022 | $24.56 | $27.02 | $23.32 | 29,710 |
| 2023 | $28.24 | $29.84 | $24.44 | 20,500 |
| 2024 | $27.03 | $27.74 | $27.00 | 21,580 |
| 2025 | $27.49 | $27.49 | $28.24 | 18,950 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in California changed by +5.7% over the last ten years of data and by -0.1% since 2019.
Are there more machinist jobs in California?
Since 1999, the number of machinists counted in California has changed by -59.3%, against -31.6% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -47.5%.
Table
| Year | California jobs | California index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 46,590 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 51,340 | 110 | 100 |
| 2001 | 43,400 | 93 | 93 |
| 2002 | 39,610 | 85 | 88 |
| 2003 | 37,650 | 81 | 88 |
| 2004 | 34,790 | 75 | 86 |
| 2005 | 30,970 | 66 | 88 |
| 2006 | 31,460 | 68 | 92 |
| 2007 | 32,450 | 70 | 98 |
| 2008 | 35,020 | 75 | 100 |
| 2009 | 33,020 | 71 | 91 |
| 2010 | 30,080 | 65 | 84 |
| 2011 | 29,900 | 64 | 88 |
| 2012 | 32,040 | 69 | 92 |
| 2013 | 34,000 | 73 | 93 |
| 2014 | 34,490 | 74 | 94 |
| 2015 | 33,810 | 73 | 95 |
| 2016 | 34,860 | 75 | 93 |
| 2017 | 34,890 | 75 | 90 |
| 2018 | 36,530 | 78 | 92 |
| 2019 | 36,120 | 78 | 91 |
| 2020 | 34,730 | 74 | 86 |
| 2021 | 29,810 | 64 | 79 |
| 2022 | 29,710 | 64 | 76 |
| 2023 | 20,500 | 44 | 69 |
| 2024 | 21,580 | 46 | 71 |
| 2025 | 18,950 | 41 | 68 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Outlook for machinists in California
California's labor market agency projects the number of machinists in the state to change by -1.6% between 2024 and 2034, from 19,200 to 18,900, with about 1,840 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +1.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 18,950 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in California?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in California
More on California
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in California?
The median machinist in California earned $27.49 an hour ($57,190 a year) in May 2025, 3% below the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $22.29–$35.68; the top 10% earn more than $42.44.
Where does California rank for machinist pay?
California ranks 37th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $27.49 an hour, and 51st after adjusting for California's cost of living (BEA price parity 110.7, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in California?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most California counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in California?
BLS counted 18,950 machinists in California in May 2025, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.56; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is machinist work growing in California?
The BLS employer survey count of machinists in California went from 33,810 in 2015 to 18,950 in 2025, -44.0%, and -47.5% since 2019. California's labor market agency projects -1.6% growth for machinists between 2024 and 2034, from 19,200 to 18,900 jobs.
How many machinist openings a year are there in California?
California projects about 1,840 openings a year for machinists over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 26,100 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, California and metro areas, SOC 51-4041. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: California labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.