Machinists Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $63,650 +13.4% vs national
Median hourly $30.60
10th percentile $39,500
90th percentile $89,430
Employed locally 2,430
National median $56,150

Compare Machinists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Diego, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Machinists
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San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,500
    25th
    $48,620
    50th (median)
    $63,650
    75th
    $78,880
    90th
    $89,430

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Machinists salary vs area income 62% Median Machinists salary is 38% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Machinists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $101,810
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $85,530
    Bloomington, IL $81,240
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $80,150
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $78,580
    Barnstable Town, MA $77,650

    Nearby metros — Machinists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $66,320
    Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $64,510
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $63,600
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $62,870
    Casper, WY $61,140
    Raleigh-Cary, NC $61,040

    Related occupations in San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $45,870
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $56,110
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $47,860
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $76,010
    Production Workers, All Other $39,290
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $40,680

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Machinists make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Machinists in San Diego, CA is $30.60, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $41.81 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Machinists salaries?

    The median Machinists salary in San Diego, CA is 13.4% above the national median of $56,150. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Machinists in San Diego?

    Entry-level Machinists (10th percentile) earn around $39,500 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $48,620.