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Machine Shop Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Atomic Machines

Head of Machine Shop

Emeryville, CA · On-site

About the role The Director, Machine Shop is accountable for building, scaling, and continuously improving Atomic Machines' prototype machining capability as a strategic engineering asset. This role ...

Aerotek

Machine Shop Helped

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$20 - $40/hr

Grinder / Shop Labor This role focuses on operating grinding equipment to finish parts for the aerospace industry. You will work with automated grinding machines that produce high volumes of ...

Wilcox Machine Company

Be Seen First

Purchasing Manager - Machine Shop

Bell Gardens, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Wilcox Machine Company, a Los Angeles based machine shop, is seeking an experienced individual to purchase materials, tooling, outside processing services, etc in support of our machine shop ...

Eaton

Machine Shop Lead - 2nd Shift

Camarillo, CA · On-site

The Machine Shop Team Lead is responsible for leading day-to-day machine shop operations to ensure work is assigned properly, schedules are met, and quality and safety requirements are maintained.

Freeform

Machine Shop General Helper

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$20 - $22/hr

MACHINE SHOP GENERAL HELPER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating ...

Freeform

Machine Shop General Helper

Los Angeles, CA

$20 - $22/hr

MACHINE SHOP GENERAL HELPER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating ...

Freeform

Machine Shop General Helper

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$20 - $22/hr

MACHINE SHOP GENERAL HELPER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating ...

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All JobsMachine Shop JobsMachine Shop Jobs in California

Machine Shop information

See California salary details

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How much do machine shop jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for machine shop in California is $17.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.23 and $18.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a typical day look like working in a machine shop?

A typical day in a machine shop involves setting up and operating various machines to manufacture or modify metal parts according to precise specifications. You'll often read blueprints or instructions, measure dimensions with specialized tools, and perform quality control checks on finished products. Collaboration with engineers, supervisors, and fellow machinists is common to troubleshoot issues and maintain smooth production. Safety is a top priority, and you may be responsible for maintaining equipment and keeping your workspace organized. The work is often hands-on and requires a focus on accuracy and efficiency throughout the shift.

What is the average hourly rate for a machine shop?

The average hourly rate for a machine shop worker typically ranges from $15 to $30, depending on experience, skill level, and geographic location. Skilled machinists with certifications or specialized tools may earn higher wages, and rates can vary based on the complexity of the work and the shop's size.

What jobs pay 4000 a week without a degree?

In the context of machine shop work, high-paying roles such as CNC programmers, tool and die makers, or specialized machinists can earn around $4,000 weekly with experience and skills, often without requiring a college degree. These positions typically demand technical training, certifications, and proficiency with machining tools and computer-aided design (CAD) software. Earning this level of income usually involves working overtime, having extensive experience, or working in high-demand industries.

What is a Machine Shop job?

A machine shop job involves operating, maintaining, and programming machines such as lathes, milling machines, and grinders to manufacture metal or plastic parts. Workers in a machine shop may have roles like machinist, CNC operator, or tool and die maker. They follow blueprints and technical drawings to create precise components for industries like aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing. Strong attention to detail, mechanical skills, and knowledge of machining processes are essential for success in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Machine Shop position, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Machine Shop, you need strong mechanical aptitude, proficiency in operating machining equipment (such as lathes, milling machines, and grinders), and a solid understanding of safety protocols; a high school diploma or equivalent is typically required, with additional technical certifications being highly beneficial. Familiarity with CNC programming, blueprint reading, precision measurement tools, and shop management software is often sought after. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and effective communication set standout candidates apart. These skills are essential to ensure high-quality production, prevent safety incidents, and maintain efficient workflow in a demanding manufacturing environment.

What do machine shop workers do?

Machine shop workers operate and maintain machinery such as lathes, mills, and grinders to produce metal parts and components. They interpret technical drawings, measure parts for quality, and ensure safety protocols are followed in a manufacturing environment.

Do machinists make a lot of money?

Machinists typically earn a competitive salary that varies by experience, location, and industry. According to industry data, the median annual wage for machinists is around $45,000 to $55,000, with experienced workers and those with specialized skills earning higher pay. Certifications and proficiency with CNC machines can also increase earning potential.
What are the most commonly searched types of Machine Shop jobs in California? The most popular types of Machine Shop jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Machine Shop jobs in California? For Machine Shop jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Machine Shop jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Machine Shop jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Machine Shop jobs? Cities in California with the most Machine Shop job openings:
Machine Shop jobs near you
Infographic showing various Machine Shop job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,360 per year, or $18 per hour.
Head of Machine Shop

Head of Machine Shop

Atomic Machines

Emeryville, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Atomic Machines is ushering in a new era of micromanufacturing with its Matter Compiler™ technology platform. This platform enables new classes of micromachines to be designed and built by providing manufacturing processes and a materials library that are inaccessible to semiconductor manufacturing methods. It unlocks MEMS manufacturing not only for device classes that could never be produced by semiconductor methods, but also for entirely new categories. Furthermore, this digital platform is fully programmable in the way 3D printing is digital-but whereas 3D printing produces parts of a single material using a single process, the Matter Compiler™ technology platform is a multi-process, multi-material system: bits and raw materials go in, and complete, functional micromachines come out. The Atomic Machines team has also created an exciting first device-made possible only through the Matter Compiler™ technology platform-that we will be unveiling to the world soon.
Our offices are in Emeryville and Santa Clara, California.
About the role
The Director, Machine Shop is accountable for building, scaling, and continuously improving Atomic Machines' prototype machining capability as a strategic engineering asset. This role owns the shop operating model, leadership structure, safety and compliance system, capacity planning, capital roadmap, vendor strategy, and cross-site coordination required to support rapid hardware iteration. The Director should be technically credible with machining, CAM, DFM, metrology, and fabrication processes, but the primary expectation is organizational leadership, systems design, budget ownership, and executive-level communication - not default hands-on machining.
What You'll Do
  • Lead the Emeryville Machine Shop
    • Own day-to-day shop operations, priorities, staffing, and execution.
    • Build, manage, and develop a strong team of machinists and shop personnel.
    • Create a safe, organized, high-quality prototype shop environment.
    • Partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Facilities, Safety, Finance, and leadership.

  • Build the Systems to Run the Shop
    • Put clear systems in place for job intake, planning, scheduling, execution, and real-time communication.
    • Create metrics and forecasting tools to understand capacity, demand, throughput, quality, and bottlenecks.
    • Use data to make trade-offs, set priorities, and communicate shop performance.
    • Standardize workflows across machining, CAM, inspection, tooling, inventory, maintenance, and vendor work.

  • Improve Shop Capability and Throughput
    • Visualize how the shop should operate and identify layout, process, staffing, and equipment improvements.
    • Improve turnaround time, quality, reliability, and engineering support.
    • Decide when work should be done in-house versus outsourced based on urgency, capability, cost, and risk.
    • Plan for future shop growth, including tools, equipment, staffing, and capital needs.

  • Institutionalize DFM and Technical Quality
    • Build a culture where machinists and engineers work together early and regularly on DFM.
    • Create lightweight DFM processes that improve designs without slowing down the shop.
    • Ensure the team understands machining risk, GD&T, inspection strategy, workholding, and manufacturability.
    • Capture lessons learned and turn them into standards, templates, and training for the shop.

  • Develop People and Culture
    • Hire, coach, and develop machinists and shop leaders.
    • Set clear expectations, provide feedback, and hold the team accountable.
    • Build a culture of ownership, craftsmanship, safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
    • Make sure the shop operates as a high-quality internal prototype shop, not a transactional job shop.

What You'll Need
  • 15+ years in machining, prototype manufacturing, or advanced hardware operations, including 5+ years leading teams or managers in a technical shop environment.
  • Demonstrated experience scaling a prototype shop, production-adjacent manufacturing function, or technical operations group through systems, staffing, and capital planning.
  • Technical credibility across CNC machining, CAM, tooling, DFM, GD&T, metrology, fabrication, post-processing, and maintenance programs.
  • Experience owning operating metrics, budgets, equipment procurement, vendor strategy, and cross-functional execution with Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, Facilities, and Safety.
  • Ability to communicate from shop floor detail to executive-level strategy, including written business cases and operational reviews.
  • Strong people leadership: hiring, performance management, coaching, succession planning, conflict resolution, and culture building.
  • Deep people-management experience, including handling underperformance, developing leads/managers, creating accountability systems, resolving conflict, and building trust across technical teams.
  • Proven experience operating or scaling a high-quality prototype shop or advanced R&D manufacturing environment, not only a transactional job shop.
  • Demonstrated ability to institutionalize DFM and engineer-shop collaboration across a team without creating meeting overload or slowing urgent prototype work.
  • Executive maturity and experience communicating with VP+ level leadership
  • Education in engineering, manufacturing, machining, or a related technical discipline preferred; equivalent experience considered.

The compensation for this position also includes equity and benefits.
Salary Range
$150,000-$225,000 USD

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