Salary guide, May 2025
CMM Programmer pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in the United States was $48,570 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $39,890 and $61,440.
Also searched as: CMM Operator, CMM Inspector. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
CMM Programmer 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.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35,510 | $39,890 | $48,570 | $61,440 | $77,860 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.07 | $19.18 | $23.35 | $29.54 | $37.44 |
BLS estimated 597,370 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $46,820 | $36,760 to $59,760 | 6,830 | 0.63 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $47,180 | $38,420 to $57,620 | 3,760 | 0.68 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $45,630 | $37,230 to $59,060 | 2,790 | 0.51 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $49,460 | $44,150 to $59,610 | 1,420 | 0.5 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50,160 | $41,120 to $62,720 | 16,370 | 0.45 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50,160 | $41,120 to $62,720 | 16,370 | 0.45 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $46,210 | $38,390 to $59,280 | 16,440 | 1.06 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $48,230 | $41,620 to $60,340 | 23,080 | 1.33 |
Rank every metro for CMM Programmer
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$74,450
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$73,310
- Ship and Boat Building$64,560
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$64,420
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$64,420
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$61,330
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$61,140
- Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing$60,820
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$60,620
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing$59,260
- Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing$59,190
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$58,360
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing$57,780
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only)$57,110
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing$56,280
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 382,920 | $43,050 | $49,270 | $61,460 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 63,910 | $47,390 | $60,620 | $77,420 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 47,990 | $44,350 | $49,410 | $60,470 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 46,600 | $38,690 | $46,100 | $51,520 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 35,730 | $38,770 | $45,820 | $50,530 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 32,800 | $44,970 | $50,120 | $61,740 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 32,480 | $45,540 | $55,250 | $65,450 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 29,910 | $38,680 | $45,630 | $49,600 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 28,190 | $46,460 | $54,760 | $62,540 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 26,120 | $60,260 | $74,450 | $93,290 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 21,920 | $40,470 | $47,070 | $55,850 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 19,460 | $40,490 | $48,480 | $60,400 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 18,660 | $46,570 | $53,970 | $62,430 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 17,830 | $43,660 | $48,640 | $59,190 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 17,440 | $46,950 | $59,260 | $72,860 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 17,210 | $37,210 | $41,070 | $47,570 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 17,190 | $42,910 | $48,570 | $59,840 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 14,050 | $45,350 | $49,940 | $60,720 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 13,840 | $44,600 | $49,520 | $61,220 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 13,800 | $45,100 | $50,680 | $61,110 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 13,430 | $46,550 | $54,510 | $62,530 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 10,570 | $48,480 | $58,360 | $66,930 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 10,330 | $46,260 | $51,620 | $60,320 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 10,330 | $46,260 | $51,620 | $60,320 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 10,030 | $47,390 | $57,110 | $66,250 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 9,420 | $41,910 | $51,060 | $63,770 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 9,230 | $46,800 | $54,690 | $62,500 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 9,100 | $40,640 | $47,770 | $56,580 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 7,030 | $63,060 | $73,310 | $78,410 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 6,680 | $40,340 | $47,420 | $59,740 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 6,330 | $38,690 | $45,960 | $50,760 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 6,240 | $45,110 | $49,640 | $60,390 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 6,120 | $39,420 | $47,830 | $55,730 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 6,050 | $38,590 | $44,870 | $49,030 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 5,830 | $39,070 | $47,600 | $59,530 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 5,710 | $46,700 | $52,060 | $61,370 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 5,620 | $43,680 | $49,100 | $61,330 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 5,620 | $37,110 | $44,670 | $52,200 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 5,560 | $46,450 | $50,350 | $60,320 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 5,520 | $39,140 | $45,750 | $55,830 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 4,940 | $36,950 | $41,160 | $47,650 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 4,850 | $37,030 | $41,720 | $48,530 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 4,850 | $37,030 | $41,720 | $48,530 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 4,590 | $47,310 | $52,070 | $58,980 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 4,570 | $38,790 | $46,970 | $58,040 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 4,440 | $37,100 | $41,850 | $47,960 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 4,190 | $39,580 | $46,260 | $50,560 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 4,100 | $47,500 | $53,620 | $61,460 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 4,060 | $43,070 | $49,330 | $60,400 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 4,020 | $35,630 | $38,610 | $45,130 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 4,020 | $42,850 | $47,900 | $58,330 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 3,690 | $47,540 | $53,390 | $61,090 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 3,580 | $40,540 | $47,550 | $53,490 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 3,330 | $49,230 | $61,140 | $75,860 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 2,980 | $55,840 | $64,560 | $82,130 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,570 | $49,860 | $64,420 | $96,120 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 2,570 | $49,860 | $64,420 | $96,120 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 2,390 | $29,520 | $45,200 | $55,760 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 2,290 | $47,040 | $56,280 | $64,870 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 2,280 | $36,220 | $39,000 | $46,360 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 2,240 | $43,670 | $48,100 | $60,070 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 2,140 | $46,890 | $53,440 | $62,140 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 2,130 | $30,310 | $36,080 | $39,180 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 2,110 | $35,350 | $41,500 | $46,520 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 2,070 | $46,690 | $57,780 | $72,540 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 2,020 | $46,910 | $54,140 | $60,450 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 2,010 | $48,830 | $59,190 | $66,890 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 1,640 | $44,310 | $47,980 | $56,980 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 1,600 | $37,110 | $37,110 | $40,350 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 1,550 | $46,170 | $55,320 | $62,270 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,530 | $46,910 | $51,860 | $61,310 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 1,340 | $30,960 | $36,390 | $43,690 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,300 | $39,010 | $47,270 | $55,900 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 1,240 | $39,200 | $49,840 | $59,130 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 1,160 | $41,660 | $50,000 | $61,700 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 1,160 | $54,900 | $61,330 | $69,540 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 1,070 | $38,210 | $43,240 | $46,230 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 1,040 | $31,200 | $37,560 | $47,060 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 940 | $46,140 | $51,740 | $64,420 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 920 | $35,470 | $38,710 | $46,030 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 880 | $48,170 | $60,820 | $70,560 |
| 313100 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 830 | $34,640 | $37,420 | $40,560 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 540 | $34,430 | $44,840 | $48,760 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 510 | $32,210 | $37,860 | $46,060 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 450 | $39,730 | $48,770 | $59,700 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 430 | $28,710 | $36,580 | $44,810 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 410 | $43,410 | $55,770 | $76,160 |
| 315100 | Apparel Knitting Mills | 410 | $28,140 | $35,500 | $36,830 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 400 | $43,660 | $47,170 | $59,730 |
| 315900 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 380 | $33,400 | $36,280 | $36,820 |
| 316200 | Footwear Manufacturing | 210 | $28,370 | $30,870 | $42,360 |
| 334600 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 180 | $40,230 | $47,790 | $47,930 |
| 316100 | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 120 | $39,160 | $45,450 | $54,850 |
| 316900 | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 100 | $29,040 | $34,550 | $40,460 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For CMM Programmer, write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $38,740 | $47,460 | $59,970 |
| May 2025 | $39,890 | $48,570 | $61,440 |
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.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Production Supervisor pay (SOC 51-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about red flags when we screen a programmer?
The biggest red flag is a person who can only edit someone else's routine. Another is vague talk about datums, as if the machine decides. We also listen for crashes blamed on the software with no mention of verification. A candidate who cannot explain how they proved a routine before running real parts needs more development than your role may allow.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a CMM Programmer?
The median annual wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in the United States was $48,570 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $39,890 and $61,440. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $35,510. 90% earned less than $77,860.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a CMM Programmer at a plant?
CMM Programmer 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. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 597,370 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
CMM Programmers are grouped under the broad SOC 51-9061 category. The national median as of May 2025 is $48,570, an increase of $1,110 from the May 2024 level of $47,460. The middle-band width is $21,550. This band captures the spectrum from basic inspection to complex programming involving PC-DMIS or metrology programming software.
Because the BLS dataset covers all testers and samplers, it does not differentiate the higher skill requirement of a CMM programmer from general inspection tasks, which Manufacturing Headhunters considers a major factor in the reported median spread.
Industry-specific national data highlights why CMM programmers are often paid above the aggregate median. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing reports a median of $74,450, while Motor Vehicle Manufacturing pays $73,310. Ship and Boat Building reflects a median of $64,560. These sectors heavily rely on automated metrology, which explains the higher industry-specific figures. It is important to remember that these statistics exclude specific bonuses for programming certifications or shift-based pay that firms often provide to retain talent.
Comparing the two highest employment metros shows local pay trends within the occupation. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN has a median of $48,230 with a middle-band width of $18,720 and a location quotient of 1.33. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA shows a median of $51,560 with a middle-band width of $19,260 and a location quotient of 0.94. The location quotient indicates that both metros have significant employment concentrations, but they do not guarantee or dictate local compensation for specific CMM programming skills. These figures serve as a baseline and do not account for individual employer salary structures or total compensation packages.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How should I interpret the occupation median for a CMM-specific role?
The median for the occupation is an aggregate of many roles, meaning CMM programmers should look toward the higher end of the band. Specialized programming skills typically command premiums that are not reflected in the average.
Are regional location quotients tied to local salary levels?
No, the location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. It does not correlate to the pay rates or the availability of high-skill candidates in that region.
Why does the BLS data not reflect the higher value of programming expertise?
The BLS classification system aggregates all testers and inspectors together to maintain consistent reporting. This prevents it from capturing the nuance of specialized technical tasks like CAD-based CMM programming.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4