Machinists pay range in Chico
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $116,480 or more. The middle half of machinists in Chico earn between $39,090 and $65,140.
- $37K10th
- $39K25th
- $47KMedian
- $65K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,520 | $4,793 | $27.65 |
| Median | $46,580 | $3,882 | $22.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,090 | $3,258 | $18.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,140 | $5,428 | $31.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Chico vs. California and the U.S.
Machinists in Chico earn 6% less than the California average ($61,380) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chico | $57,520 | $46,580 | $37,270 | $116,480 | 40 |
| 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 Chico
On the average salary of $57,520, a single filer in Chico takes home about $46,754 a year, or $3,896 a month and $1,798 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 Chico a good place for machinists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chico area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.2), so the average $57,520 buys what about $56,840 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chico ($48,050). A typical home costs $401,581, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other California cities
Chico ranks 15th 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
- Chico$57,520
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 Chico: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Chico?
$27.65 an hour on average, and $22.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Chico?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Chico?
About $46,754 a year ($3,896 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,520. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do machinists earn more in Chico than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Chico, CA (17020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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 0.31, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.31).
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