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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 Content is AI-assisted, compiled from publicly available sources, and may be out of date or contain errors.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 Jose
  5. Machine Operator
ByLocal Market Research Team
Reviewed by Indeed Flex Editorial Board
Updated January 15, 2026
Industrial & Warehouse
San Jose, CA

Machine Operator Jobs in San Jose

Temp and flexible machine operator positions in San Jose pay $26.56-$43.16/hr — 66% above the national average, with a cost of living 66% above the U.S. baseline.

$27-$43

Per Hour

$1394

Weekly (40hrs)

166

Cost Index

PST

Time Zone

Find Machine Operator ShiftsCalculate Earnings
Quick Facts

Top Industries in San Jose

Technology
Manufacturing
Healthcare
Retail

Monthly Costs

1-Bed Rent$2800
Groceries$420
Transport$120
More about San Jose

About Machine Operator Jobs in San Jose

Machine Operators in San Jose earn $26.56-$43.16/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 Jose are available as temporary, part-time, or flexible shifts.

Machine Operator Pay: San Jose vs Nearby Cities

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

Worker Affordability Score

Calculated for Machine Operator in San Jose

2x
Challenging
80
Hours to pay rent
50%
Rent / gross income
1,011
Monthly disposable

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

What You’ll Actually Earn in San Jose

Monthly Income (40 hrs/wk)
Gross monthly$6,038
Est. taxes (~22%)-$1,328
Take-home$4,710
After Essential Costs
1-Bed Rent$2,800
Groceries + transport$540
Remaining$1,370

Based on avg Machine Operator rate of $34.86/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 Jose

Calculate Your Machine Operator Earningsin San Jose
$35/hr
$26.56/hr$43.16/hr
25 hr
5 hr (Part-time)50 hr (Full-time+)
Weekly
$875
Monthly
$3,789
Yearly
$45,500
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 Jose

Start Earning Today

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

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Related Roles in San Jose
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 Jose →
Machine Operator in Nearby Cities
Las Vegas, NVReno, NVSan Francisco, CASan Diego, CADenver, COBrowse all cities →
Helpful Tools
Pay CalculatorCost of Living ComparisonShift PlannerMachine Operator Career Guide

Explore More Opportunities

More Jobs in San Jose

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  • Chef de Partie in San Jose
  • Entry Level Cook in San Jose

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 Jose

Find opportunities and compare costs

Top Jobs in This City
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  • Dishwasher Jobs in San Jose$12-$17/hr
  • Host / Hostess Jobs in San Jose$12-$18/hr
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Compare Living Costs
  • Cost of Living CalculatorSee expenses in San Jose
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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