Machinist Salary in Riverside, CA
Machinists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $49,440 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,246 take-home, or $3,354 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,753
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,065
- Medicare (1.45%)$717
- California income tax$1,016
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$643
- Take-home pay$40,246
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Machinist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,980 | $17.30 | $30,194 | $2,516 |
| 25th percentile | $42,280 | $20.33 | $34,922 | $2,910 |
| Median (50th) | $49,440 | $23.77 | $40,246 | $3,354 |
| 75th percentile | $62,660 | $30.13 | $49,904 | $4,159 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,510 | $37.26 | $59,362 | $4,947 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,440 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $40,246 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,811 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.57), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #115 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 |
| 115 | Riverside, CA | $49,440 | $40,246 | $37,811 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $55,660
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Riverside, CA?
The median machinist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $49,440 a year, or about $23.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,280 and $62,660.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $49,440 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $40,246 a year ($3,354 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,659 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,811 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #115 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 53% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $82,780
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $71,180
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $52,050
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $50,150
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $49,460
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,320
- Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter — $47,880
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $47,420
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic — $47,370
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $47,300
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $47,280
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $47,140