Machine Tech

Machine Tech Salary in California

$25.7K

$40K

$63.2K

$40,822

/year

$19.63

/hour

Machine Tech Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$41,364

California

California

$40,822

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    How much does a Machine Tech make in California?

    As of Aug 26, 2026, the average annual pay for a Machine Tech in California is $40,822 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $19.63 an hour. This is the equivalent of $785/week or $3,401/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $63,162 and as low as $25,660, the majority of Machine Tech salaries currently range between $32,600 (25th percentile) to $45,900 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $55,760 annually in California. The average pay range for a Machine Tech varies greatly (by as much as 13300), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

    California ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for Machine Tech salaries.

    To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Machine Tech jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

    Find your next high paying job as a Machine Tech on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Machine Tech Jobs in California

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Machine Tech job is above the average in California in California. Topping the list is San Francisco, , with Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale, close behind in the second and third positions. Sunnyvale, beats the average in California by $7,725 (18.9%), and San Francisco, furthers that trend with another $7,912 (19.4%) above the $40,822 average.

    With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for California, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Machine Tech appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 3% between San Francisco, and San Mateo, , 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 Tech role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    San Francisco

    $48,734

    $23.43

    Santa Clara

    $48,579

    $23.36

    Sunnyvale

    $48,547

    $23.34

    Livermore

    $48,519

    $23.33

    San Jose

    $48,478

    $23.31

    Daly City

    $47,928

    $23.04

    Oakland

    $47,505

    $22.84

    Richmond

    $47,472

    $22.82

    Ashland

    $47,419

    $22.80

    San Mateo

    $47,113

    $22.65

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Machine Tech Jobs in California

    Analyzing similar jobs related to the Machine Tech job category in California, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $40822 state average for Machine Tech jobs.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Cam Programmer

    $81,158

    $39.02

    Precision Machine

    $54,086

    $26.00

    Machine Tool Builder

    $46,846

    $22.52

    Coordinate Measuring Machine Operator Cmm Operator

    $46,407

    $22.31

    Shipping And Receiving

    $36,486

    $17.54

    About Our Data

    ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

    Infographic detailing Machine Tech salary in California as of August 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $32,600 to $55,760 annually, with the California average at $40,822 per year or $19.63 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in California for Machine Tech jobs, with San Francisco leading at $48,734 annually.