Machinists Salary in Chico, CA
The median pay for a machinists in Chico, CA is $56,000/year ($26.92/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.2), that's roughly $55,336 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,625/month — about 44.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $56K get you in Chico?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chico’s Regional Price Parity (101.2). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About machinists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chico, CA
Entry-level machinists (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Machinists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $102K | +81% | 230 |
| Hawaii | $77K | +37% | 290 |
| Alaska | $73K | +29% | 140 |
| Washington | $65K | +15% | 6,980 |
| Wyoming | $64K | +14% | 300 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +11% | 7,870 |
| Oregon | $62K | +11% | 3,220 |
| New Jersey | $62K | +10% | 3,530 |
| Maine | $62K | +10% | 1,560 |
| Montana | $61K | +9% | 680 |
| Connecticut | $61K | +9% | 6,070 |
| Virginia | $61K | +8% | 6,140 |
| Utah | $60K | +8% | 3,680 |
| Delaware | $60K | +7% | 390 |
| New York | $60K | +7% | 8,870 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | +7% | 1,540 |
| Minnesota | $60K | +7% | 14,910 |
| Rhode Island | $59K | +6% | 860 |
| Arizona | $59K | +5% | 5,280 |
| Louisiana | $59K | +5% | 4,980 |
| Maryland | $58K | +4% | 1,600 |
| North Dakota | $58K | +3% | 500 |
| Nebraska | $58K | +3% | 2,210 |
| Missouri | $58K | +3% | 8,200 |
| New Mexico | $58K | +2% | 830 |
| Illinois | $57K | +1% | 16,100 |
| California | $56K | +0% | 21,580 |
| Ohio | $56K | +0% | 14,110 |
| Texas | $56K | -0% | 20,770 |
| Nevada | $56K | -1% | 860 |
| North Carolina | $56K | -1% | 8,310 |
| Idaho | $54K | -4% | 1,150 |
| Kentucky | $54K | -4% | 4,150 |
| Iowa | $53K | -5% | 3,010 |
| Alabama | $53K | -5% | 5,620 |
| South Carolina | $53K | -6% | 4,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $53K | -6% | 15,060 |
| Wisconsin | $52K | -7% | 12,530 |
| Oklahoma | $52K | -7% | 4,020 |
| Florida | $51K | -10% | 8,240 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -10% | 2,110 |
| Michigan | $50K | -11% | 23,090 |
| South Dakota | $50K | -11% | 580 |
| Georgia | $49K | -12% | 6,930 |
| Vermont | $49K | -13% | 380 |
| Indiana | $49K | -13% | 16,510 |
| Arkansas | $49K | -13% | 2,390 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -13% | 7,730 |
| Kansas | $48K | -14% | 4,070 |
| West Virginia | $48K | -15% | 1,530 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track machinists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chico numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do machinists make in Chico, CA?
The median is $56,000 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,260, and experienced machinists can clear $80,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Chico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,782/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,625/month, which eats 43% 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 machinists salary go in Chico?
Chico has a Regional Price Parity of 101.2 (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 machinists salary is worth about $55,336 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do machinists 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.