Machinists pay range in San Luis Obispo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,390 or more. The middle half of machinists in San Luis Obispo earn between $44,350 and $67,380.
- $38K10th
- $44K25th
- $54KMedian
- $67K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,220 | $4,685 | $27.03 |
| Median | $53,510 | $4,459 | $25.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,350 | $3,696 | $21.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,380 | $5,615 | $32.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in San Luis Obispo vs. California and the U.S.
Machinists in San Luis Obispo earn 8% less than the California average ($61,380) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $56,220 | $53,510 | $37,500 | $76,390 | 120 |
| 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 Luis Obispo
On the average salary of $56,220, a single filer in San Luis Obispo takes home about $45,787 a year, or $3,816 a month and $1,761 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 Luis Obispo a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Luis Obispo area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.6), so the average $56,220 buys what about $51,770 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Luis Obispo ($50,770). A typical home costs $909,699, or 16.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other California cities
San Luis Obispo ranks 18th of 22 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($76,240).
- 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
- San Luis Obispo$56,220
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 Luis Obispo: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in San Luis Obispo?
$27.03 an hour on average, and $25.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in San Luis Obispo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in San Luis Obispo?
About $45,787 a year ($3,816 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,220. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do machinists earn more in San Luis Obispo than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA (42020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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