Machinists pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $92,140 or more. The middle half of machinists in Santa Cruz earn between $44,450 and $67,010.
- $39K10th
- $44K25th
- $51KMedian
- $67K75th
- $92K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,420 | $4,868 | $28.09 |
| Median | $51,420 | $4,285 | $24.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,450 | $3,704 | $21.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $67,010 | $5,584 | $32.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Machinists in Santa Cruz earn 5% less than the California average ($61,380) and about the same as the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $58,420 | $51,420 | $38,650 | $92,140 | 70 |
| 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 Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $58,420, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $47,423 a year, or $3,952 a month and $1,824 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 Santa Cruz a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $58,420 buys what about $53,159 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 19.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 14th 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
- Santa Cruz$58,420
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 Santa Cruz: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$28.09 an hour on average, and $24.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $47,423 a year ($3,952 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,420. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do machinists earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- 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 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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