Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Machine Operator pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Machinists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA was $61,420 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $48,700 and $78,650.
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA median is $2,670 above the national median of $58,750, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-4041 Machinists
CNC Machine Operator is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
What should you know about san Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,300 | $48,700 | $61,420 | $78,650 | $86,970 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $19.38 | $23.41 | $29.53 | $37.81 | $41.81 |
BLS estimated 2,180 workers employed in this occupation in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. Location quotient: 0.77.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,200 | $47,570 | $58,750 | $67,700 | $80,010 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.85 | $22.87 | $28.24 | $32.55 | $38.47 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published CNC Machine Operator median is $61,420. The all-occupations median in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $58,690. Ratio: 1.05 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.77 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $48,620 | $63,650 | $78,880 |
| May 2025 | $48,700 | $61,420 | $78,650 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4041 Machinists, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4041 Machinists, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $55,660 | $44,000 to $65,850 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49,440 | $42,280 to $62,660 |
All roles in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA · National page · CNC Machine Operator ranked across metros