Machinists Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
The median pay for a machinists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is $62,870/year ($30.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $56,937 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 84.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $63K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara’s Regional Price Parity (110.42). 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, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level machinists (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $61K 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do machinists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $62,870 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,600, and experienced machinists can clear $103,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,202/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month, which eats 82.9% 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 machinists salary go in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $56,937 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.