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How much does a machinist make in San Diego?

$61,420a year

Median yearly pay for machinists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $29.53 an hour or $5,118 a month.

Hourly
$29.53
Vs. national median
+5%
Rank among cities
70 of 361
Jobs in the area
2,180
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $40,300Median: $61,420Highest 10%: $86,970
PercentileYearlyHourly
10th$40,300$19.38
25th$48,700$23.41
Median$61,420$29.53
75th$78,650$37.81
90th$86,970$41.81

Other cities in California

Median yearly pay for machinists.

San Francisco, CA$67,750
San Jose, CA$63,540
Vallejo, CA$59,850
Santa Maria, CA$58,690
Sacramento, CA$57,900
Oxnard, CA$56,530
Salinas, CA$56,490
Santa Rosa, CA$56,200
Modesto, CA$55,950
Los Angeles, CA$55,660
Redding, CA$55,260
Fresno, CA$54,580
San Luis Obispo, CA$53,510
Santa Cruz, CA$51,420
Stockton, CA$50,920
Bakersfield, CA$50,680
Visalia, CA$49,750
Riverside, CA$49,440
Machinist salary in California Machinist salary in all states

Related jobs in San Diego

Same field, median yearly pay.

Power Distributor and Dispatcher$173,100
Power Plant Operator$99,470
Gas Plant Operator$98,900
Tool and Die Maker$85,010
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer$79,990
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$79,630
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker$79,350
Plant and System Operator$77,330
Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator$77,080
Layout Worker$74,490
Salaries for every job in San Diego, CA

Frequently asked questions

How much does a machinist make an hour in San Diego?

The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $29.53 ($61,420 a year).

Do machinists make more in San Diego than the national average?

Yes: $61,420 against $58,750 nationally, 5% more.

How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?

The median in California is $57,190, so San Diego pays 7% more.

Where does San Diego rank for machinist pay?

70 of 361 metro areas with data.

How much does a machinist make starting out in San Diego?

The lowest-paid 10% make $40,300 or less a year; the top 10% make $86,970 or more.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.