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The Indeed Flex Career Hub is provided for general informational purposes only. Content is AI-assisted, compiled from publicly available sources, and may be out of date or contain errors. Nothing on this site constitutes professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. Always verify pay, tax, and benefit figures with the original source or a qualified professional before relying on them.

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  1. Career Hub
  2. Career Hub
  3. Cities
  4. San Diego
  5. Machine Operator
ByLocal Market Research Team
Reviewed by Indeed Flex Editorial Board
Updated January 15, 2026
Industrial & Warehouse
San Diego, CA

Machine Operator Jobs in San Diego

Temp and flexible machine operator positions in San Diego pay $23.36-$37.96/hr — 46% above the national average, with a cost of living 46% above the U.S. baseline.

$23-$38

Per Hour

$1226

Weekly (40hrs)

146

Cost Index

PST

Time Zone

Find Machine Operator ShiftsCalculate Earnings
Quick Facts

Top Industries in San Diego

Tourism
Military
Biotech
Healthcare

Monthly Costs

1-Bed Rent$2400
Groceries$400
Transport$110
More about San Diego

About Machine Operator Jobs in San Diego

Machine Operators in San Diego earn $23.36-$37.96/hr, above the national average.

Machine Operators set up, run, and monitor manufacturing equipment to produce parts and products. They ensure machines run efficiently and products meet quality standards.

Most machine operator positions in San Diego are available as temporary, part-time, or flexible shifts.

Machine Operator Pay: San Diego vs Nearby Cities

CityHourly PayCost of Living1-Bed Rent
San Diego, CA$23–$38/hr146$2,400
Las Vegas, NV$16–$25/hr98$1,350
Reno, NV$16–$26/hr101$1,400
San Francisco, CA$29–$47/hr180$3,200
San Jose, CA$27–$43/hr166$2,800
Worker Proprietary Metric

Worker Affordability Score

Calculated for Machine Operator in San Diego

2x
Tight Budget
78
Hours to pay rent
49%
Rent / gross income
916
Monthly disposable
2% more affordable than US national average

Data based on BLS OEWS wage data and HUD 2024 fair market rents.

What You’ll Actually Earn in San Diego

Monthly Income (40 hrs/wk)
Gross monthly$5,310
Est. taxes (~22%)-$1,168
Take-home$4,142
After Essential Costs
1-Bed Rent$2,400
Groceries + transport$510
Remaining$1,232

Based on avg Machine Operator rate of $30.66/hr at 40 hrs/wk.

Key Responsibilities

  • Set up machines according to specifications
  • Operate and monitor production equipment
  • Perform quality checks on products
  • Troubleshoot minor machine issues
  • Document production data

Skills & Requirements

Key Skills
Machine operation
Technical aptitude
Quality control
Problem solving
Safety awareness
Requirements
  • Mechanical aptitude
  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Ability to read technical documents
  • Previous manufacturing experience preferred

Earnings Calculator for San Diego

Calculate Your Machine Operator Earningsin San Diego
$31/hr
$23.36/hr$37.96/hr
25 hr
5 hr (Part-time)50 hr (Full-time+)
Weekly
$775
Monthly
$3,356
Yearly
$40,300
Open Full Pay Calculator

Career Path from Machine Operator

Machine Operator

0-2 years

Senior Operator

2-4 years

Setup Technician

4-6 years

Production Supervisor

6+ years

FAQs: Machine Operator Jobs in San Diego

Start Earning Today

Join thousands of machine operators in San Diego earning on their own schedule

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Related Roles in San Diego
Delivery Driver$16-$24/hrPicker Packer$15-$21/hrWarehouse Operative$15-$22/hrForklift Driver$17-$25/hrFood Production Operative$14-$20/hrView all roles in San Diego →
Machine Operator in Nearby Cities
Las Vegas, NVReno, NVSan Francisco, CASan Jose, CADenver, COBrowse all cities →
Helpful Tools
Pay CalculatorCost of Living ComparisonShift PlannerMachine Operator Career Guide

Explore More Opportunities

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  • Entry Level Cook in San Diego

Machine Operator in Other Cities

  • Machine Operator in Philadelphia, PA
  • Machine Operator in Charlotte, NC
  • Machine Operator in Las Vegas, NV
  • Machine Operator in Dallas, TX
  • Machine Operator in Columbus, OH
  • Machine Operator in Phoenix, AZ

Related Resources

  • Industrial & Warehouse Industry Guide
  • Complete Machine Operator Career Guide
  • Getting Started Guides
  • Financial Tips for Flex Workers

Data Sources & Methodology

The information on this page is compiled from the following sources:

  1. [1]
    BLS QCEW — Employment and wage data at state and county level by industry.Visit
  2. [2]
    BLS CES — Monthly survey of ~670,000 worksites providing industry-level employment and earnings data.Visit
  3. [3]
    Census ACS — Demographic, economic, and housing data for communities.Visit
  4. [4]
    Indeed Hiring Lab — Monthly posted-wage data by job title from Indeed job listings.Visit
  5. [5]
    MWPVL — Comprehensive database of distribution center and warehouse locations.Visit
  6. [6]
    DOL/State Labor Depts — Minimum wage rates, tip credits, licensing requirements, and regulations by state.Visit

Data Freshness

CategoryCost of Living
Last Updated2026-01-15
Next Update2027-01-15

We strive to keep all data accurate and up-to-date. Pay rates may vary based on location, experience, and employer.

About this data

Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may be out of date. They are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute professional career, legal, tax, or financial advice. For the most current pay rates, verify with the original source, a qualified professional, or check the Indeed Flex app directly for real-time shift availability and compensation.

Explore Jobs in San Diego

Find opportunities and compare costs

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Compare Living Costs
  • Cost of Living CalculatorSee expenses in San Diego
Nearby Cities
  • Philadelphia, PA$14-$22/hr avg
  • Charlotte, NC$14-$21/hr avg
  • Las Vegas, NV$14-$24/hr avg
  • Dallas, TX$14-$23/hr avg

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