SOC 51-4041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Machinists — San Diego
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Machinists in San Diego, CA is $61,420 per year, close to the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Machinists in San Diego, CA is $61,420 per year, close to the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $40,300 at the tenth percentile to more than $86,970 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $48,700 to $78,650.
Employment stands at 2,180, or 1.4 jobs per thousand held locally. San Francisco leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $67,750. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 394th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,300 | −31.4% |
| 25th | $48,700 | −17.1% |
| Median (50th) | $61,420 | +4.5% |
| 75th | $78,650 | +33.9% |
| 90th | $86,970 | +48.0% |
| Mean | $64,530 | +9.8% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $67,750 | 1,610 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $63,540 | 1,370 | |
| 3 | Vallejo | $59,850 | 150 | |
| 4 | Santa Maria | $58,690 | 130 | |
| 5 | Sacramento | $57,900 | 600 | |
| 6 | Yuba City | $56,820 | 30 | |
| 7 | Oxnard | $56,530 | 540 | |
| 8 | Salinas | $56,490 | 90 | |
| 9 | Santa Rosa | $56,200 | 230 | |
| 10 | Modesto | $55,950 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in San Diego run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $61,420 buys what $55,483 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,420as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,483US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,420 a year, 4.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,300 to $86,970 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,180 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $67,750.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Machinists in San Diego, CA?
The median annual wage is $61,420, or $29.53 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $58,750, so pay in San Diego, CA is 4.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in San Diego, CA earns more than $86,970 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,300 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $67,750 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,180 jobs in this occupation in San Diego, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data