Machinist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Machinists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $55,660 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $44,790 take-home, or $3,733 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,499
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,451
- Medicare (1.45%)$807
- California income tax$1,389
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$724
- Take-home pay$44,790
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Machinist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,980 | $17.78 | $30,944 | $2,579 |
| 25th percentile | $44,000 | $21.15 | $36,213 | $3,018 |
| Median (50th) | $55,660 | $26.76 | $44,790 | $3,733 |
| 75th percentile | $65,850 | $31.66 | $52,179 | $4,348 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $80,320 | $38.62 | $61,051 | $5,088 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $55,660 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $44,790 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,440 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Machinist jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #114 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | $54,812 | $60,379 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $66,990 | $54,334 | $58,678 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | $49,474 | $56,456 |
| 4 | Kingsport, TN | $57,890 | $48,695 | $56,329 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | $61,710 | $50,071 | $56,209 |
| 6 | Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | $48,845 | $56,009 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $56,008 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $59,800 | $50,229 | $55,782 |
| 114 | Los Angeles, CA | $55,660 | $44,790 | $39,440 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Machinist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $67,750
- San Jose, CA — $63,540
- San Diego, CA — $61,420
- Sacramento, CA — $57,900
- Oxnard, CA — $56,530
- Riverside, CA — $49,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median machinist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $55,660 a year, or about $26.76 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,000 and $65,850.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $55,660 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $44,790 a year ($3,733 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,113 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,440 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #114 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 60% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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