What apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists in California?

In California, registered apprenticeships are administered through the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in California (2026)

Q: How much do cnc machinists earn in California?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,190. Employment concentration in California is roughly 0.56 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in California?

California currently employs approximately 18,950 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California machinists earn a median annual wage of $57,190 ($27.49/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 18,950 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.7% below the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $57,190 ($27.49/hr)
25th percentile: $46,360 per year
75th percentile: $74,210 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $88,280 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,440 per year
Workers employed in California: 18,950
Versus national median: -2.7% below the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.56 - this occupation is less concentrated in California than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

California employs about 18,950 cnc machinists earning a median $57,190 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cnc machinists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in California.

Compare CNC Machinist Schools in California

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Pasadena City College	71.5	$1,180 in-state / $9,820 out-of-state	$48,980	48%	Yes*	119 mi
2	Glendale Community College	55.8	$1,191 in-state / $10,935 out-of-state	$49,295	37%	Yes*	114 mi
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3	Madera Community College	55.8	$1,378 in-state / $8,638 out-of-state	Not reported	35%	—	106 mi
4	Allan Hancock College	55.3	$1,156 in-state / $9,892 out-of-state	$55,202	26%	Yes*	61 mi
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5	El Camino Community College District	51.4	$1,144 in-state / $7,630 out-of-state	$60,046	42%	—	127 mi
6	Los Angeles Pierce College	44.6	$1,238 in-state / $10,572 out-of-state	$48,321	46%	—	102 mi
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7	Los Angeles Valley College	42.2	$1,238 in-state / $10,572 out-of-state	$52,988	32%	—	107 mi
8	Reedley College	41.6	$1,334 in-state / $10,154 out-of-state	$42,644	42%	—	81 mi
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9	Los Angeles Trade Technical College	34.6	$1,238 in-state / $10,572 out-of-state	$46,673	35%	—	120 mi
10	Compton College	25.2	$1,142 in-state / $8,822 out-of-state	Not reported	27%	Yes*	131 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

California employs approximately 18,950 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,190 ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 29,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a CNC Machinist in California, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (California): $57,190 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CNC Machinist in California

How to become a CNC Machinist in California? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for cnc machinists in California.

How long does it take? Most paths into the cnc machinist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do cnc machinists earn in California? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in California is $57,190 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,440 and experienced professionals can earn $88,280 or more ¹.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in California

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most California training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in California that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to cnc machinists in California before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

CNC Machinist Apprenticeship Information in California

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. California’s apprenticeship program is administered by the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Fresno Region
Phone: (559) 445-5431
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in California

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in California

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), machinists wages in California vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	7,850	$55,660	$57,130	$36,980	$80,320
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	2,180	$61,420	$64,530	$40,300	$86,970
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	1,810	$49,440	$54,960	$35,980	$77,510
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	1,610	$67,750	$76,240	$45,850	$125,980
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	1,370	$63,540	$69,020	$44,350	$97,750
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	600	$57,900	$62,070	$38,370	$93,410
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	540	$56,530	$59,210	$39,320	$78,420
Fresno	300	$54,580	$58,740	$37,090	$80,600
Bakersfield-Delano	250	$50,680	$58,670	$35,540	$92,350
Santa Rosa-Petaluma	230	$56,200	$60,000	$39,320	$80,390
Stockton-Lodi	220	$50,920	$54,190	$36,040	$76,640
Vallejo	150	$59,850	$67,080	$46,890	$93,580
Modesto	140	$55,950	$56,990	$39,990	$75,390
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara	130	$58,690	$62,340	$40,640	$89,890
Visalia	130	$49,750	$52,880	$35,640	$71,510
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles	120	$53,510	$56,220	$37,500	$76,390
Salinas	90	$56,490	$62,140	$38,590	$97,150
Santa Cruz-Watsonville	70	$51,420	$58,420	$38,650	$92,140
Redding	60	$55,260	$64,700	$38,780	$134,750
Chico	40	$46,580	$57,520	$37,270	$116,480
Merced	40	$47,130	$49,800	$38,500	$69,150
Yuba City	30	$56,820	$65,470	$36,500	$106,870

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in California? California currently employs approximately 18,950 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California. You can also contact the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do cnc machinists earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in California is $57,190, which is $1,040 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data ¹.

In California

Best Trade Schools in California (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
California Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.dir.ca.gov/databases/das/aigstart.asp ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)