Machine Setup Operator Salary in California
$10.9K - $14.8K
0% of jobs
$14.8K - $18.8K
0% of jobs
$18.8K - $22.7K
0% of jobs
$22.7K - $26.6K
0% of jobs
$26.6K - $30.6K
0% of jobs
$30.6K - $34.5K
0% of jobs
$36.5K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$34.5K - $38.5K
51% of jobs
$41.9K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$38.5K - $42.4K
28% of jobs
$42.4K - $46.4K
7% of jobs
$46.4K - $50.3K
8% of jobs
$50.3K - $54.3K
7% of jobs
$10.9K
$39.5K
$55.8K
$41,880
/year
$20.13
/hour
Machine Setup Operator Salary Comparison by Location
Nationwide
United States
$42,436
California
California
$41,880
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How much does a Machine Setup Operator make in California?
As of Aug 9, 2026, the average annual pay for a Machine Setup Operator in California is $41,880 a year.
Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $20.13 an hour. This is the equivalent of $805/week or $3,490/month.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $55,761 and as low as $10,856, the majority of Machine Setup Operator salaries currently range between $37,500 (25th percentile) to $43,400 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $52,799 annually in California. The average pay range for a Machine Setup Operator varies little (about 5900), which suggests that regardless of location, there are not many opportunities for increased pay or advancement, even with several years of experience.
California ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Machine Setup Operator salaries.
To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Machine Setup Operator jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.
Find your next high paying job as a Machine Setup Operator on ZipRecruiter today.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Machine Setup Operator Jobs in California
We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Machine Setup Operator job is above the average in California in California. Topping the list is Berkeley, , with San Francisco, and Santa Clara, close behind in the second and third positions. Santa Clara, beats the average in California by $7,959 (19.0%), and Berkeley, furthers that trend with another $10,081 (24.1%) above the $41,880 average.
With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for California, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Machine Setup Operator appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 8% between Berkeley, and Vallejo, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Machine Setup Operator role.
City | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Berkeley | $51,961 | $24.98 |
San Francisco | $49,997 | $24.04 |
Santa Clara | $49,839 | $23.96 |
Sunnyvale | $49,805 | $23.94 |
San Jose | $49,690 | $23.89 |
Daly City | $49,171 | $23.64 |
Richmond | $48,703 | $23.41 |
Hayward | $48,653 | $23.39 |
Antioch | $48,249 | $23.20 |
Vallejo | $47,883 | $23.02 |
What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Machine Setup Operator Jobs in California
Analyzing similar jobs related to the Machine Setup Operator job category in California, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $41880 state average for Machine Setup Operator jobs.
Job Title | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
Maintenance Machinist | $64,267 | $30.90 |
Backhoe Operator | $56,206 | $27.02 |
Machine | $54,086 | $26.00 |
Cnc Milling Machine Operator | $51,203 | $24.62 |
Cnc Lathe Operator | $49,563 | $23.83 |
About Our Data
ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.
