Machinists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,980 or more. The middle half of machinists in San Francisco earn between $56,990 and $91,080.
- $46K10th
- $57K25th
- $68KMedian
- $91K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,240 | $6,353 | $36.65 |
| Median | $67,750 | $5,646 | $32.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,990 | $4,749 | $27.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,080 | $7,590 | $43.79 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Machinists in San Francisco earn 24% more than the California average ($61,380) and 29% more than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $76,240 | $67,750 | $45,850 | $125,980 | 1,610 |
| California | $61,380 | $57,190 | $37,440 | $88,280 | 18,950 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $76,240, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $59,438 a year, or $4,953 a month and $2,286 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $76,240 buys what about $65,944 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 15.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 22 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$76,240
- San Jose$69,020
- Vallejo$67,080
- Yuba City$65,470
- Redding$64,700
- San Diego$64,530
- Santa Maria$62,340
- Salinas$62,140
- Sacramento$62,070
- Santa Rosa$60,000
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in San Francisco?
$36.65 an hour on average, and $32.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $59,438 a year ($4,953 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,240. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do machinists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% more than the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4041; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.37, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.37).
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