Engine and Other Machine Assemblers Salary
In California, engine and other machine assemblers earn $46,810 at the median, or about $22.51 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $44,102 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 76.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in California?
About engine and other machine assemblers
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What this looks like in California
Pay for engine and other machine assemblers in California runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $54K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 76.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for engine and other machine assemblerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level engine and other machine assemblers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers salary by metro in California
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $51K | +9% | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $47K | -0% | 660 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $41K | -13% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track engine and other machine assemblers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a engine and other machine assembler afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 76.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for engine and other machine assemblers in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new engine and other machine assemblers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,165/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 114% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is engine and other machine assembler a high-paying job in California?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $47K here vs. $54K nationally.
How does California compare to the national average for engine and other machine assemblers?
California pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do engine and other machine assemblers make in California?
The median is $46,810 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,080, and experienced engine and other machine assemblers can clear $73,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,213/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 76.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a engine and other machine assemblers salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median engine and other machine assemblers salary is worth about $44,102 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do engine and other machine assemblers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.