Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Machine Operator 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 Machinists in the United States was $58,750 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $47,570 and $67,700.
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.
| 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 |
BLS estimated 287,050 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4041 Machinists, 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 | $60,700 | $48,540 to $71,920 | 2,170 | 0.42 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $57,160 | $48,710 to $63,110 | 1,530 | 0.57 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $57,390 | $46,840 to $64,330 | 710 | 0.27 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,430 | $49,040 to $65,160 | 570 | 0.42 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $62,750 | $50,920 to $78,240 | 4,300 | 0.25 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $62,750 | $50,920 to $78,240 | 4,300 | 0.25 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $59,830 | $48,820 to $71,230 | 4,660 | 0.62 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $59,520 | $47,770 to $68,260 | 11,270 | 1.35 |
Rank every metro for CNC Machine Operator
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.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$108,490
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing$108,490
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing$88,750
- Beverage Manufacturing$88,750
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills$87,730
- Tobacco Manufacturing$86,060
- Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing$71,870
- Fabric Mills$70,180
- Sawmills and Wood Preservation$69,910
- Textile Mills$68,700
- Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing$68,640
- Textile Product Mills$65,460
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing$64,500
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$64,140
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$63,820
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 | 241,490 | $47,630 | $58,540 | $65,390 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 101,640 | $46,270 | $54,910 | $62,730 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 77,100 | $46,380 | $55,660 | $62,530 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 65,540 | $46,630 | $56,640 | $62,740 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 59,550 | $48,480 | $59,590 | $64,390 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 37,190 | $49,900 | $61,920 | $76,080 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 28,550 | $48,640 | $59,780 | $65,000 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 21,200 | $47,700 | $57,980 | $63,600 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 19,950 | $56,250 | $64,140 | $77,570 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 16,400 | $45,500 | $51,850 | $63,100 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 11,570 | $44,790 | $49,640 | $61,110 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 11,210 | $48,960 | $60,790 | $72,400 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 9,780 | $47,800 | $59,570 | $65,490 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 9,360 | $45,330 | $54,270 | $70,080 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 8,470 | $52,610 | $61,230 | $67,220 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 7,670 | $49,900 | $61,180 | $72,470 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 7,490 | $47,300 | $55,550 | $65,970 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 6,120 | $48,990 | $60,680 | $72,050 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 5,640 | $46,250 | $54,210 | $62,900 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 5,570 | $47,520 | $58,560 | $64,230 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 3,660 | $45,360 | $53,260 | $63,560 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 3,600 | $50,050 | $60,300 | $69,720 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 3,490 | $52,870 | $62,900 | $73,020 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 3,000 | $47,640 | $57,440 | $70,830 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 2,830 | $49,300 | $59,590 | $64,520 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 2,690 | $48,970 | $60,540 | $70,970 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 2,440 | $46,950 | $55,460 | $64,180 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 2,180 | $44,460 | $49,280 | $60,210 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 2,050 | $48,930 | $55,600 | $70,320 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 1,330 | $49,310 | $58,750 | $65,350 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 1,110 | $46,090 | $50,990 | $61,860 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 1,070 | $52,450 | $52,480 | $60,430 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,060 | $48,150 | $59,500 | $59,520 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 1,030 | $48,730 | $48,930 | $49,020 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 1,000 | $49,000 | $50,720 | $60,850 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 920 | $50,120 | $59,090 | $66,610 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 900 | $45,550 | $58,360 | $69,310 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 880 | $48,990 | $61,000 | $70,170 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 880 | $48,990 | $61,000 | $70,170 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 830 | $60,850 | $63,820 | $91,720 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 810 | $103,280 | $108,490 | $111,780 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 810 | $103,280 | $108,490 | $111,780 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 750 | $45,090 | $51,110 | $59,960 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 670 | $38,970 | $48,380 | $55,190 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 670 | $38,900 | $48,120 | $54,870 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 650 | $43,020 | $49,390 | $63,890 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 610 | $38,570 | $62,920 | $78,490 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 570 | $52,450 | $52,480 | $56,520 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 520 | $46,920 | $54,390 | $63,880 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 500 | $38,570 | $54,410 | $71,520 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 430 | $58,920 | $64,500 | $78,800 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 420 | $83,180 | $88,750 | $91,040 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 390 | $84,520 | $88,750 | $91,040 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 390 | $52,280 | $71,870 | $76,930 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 340 | $46,920 | $48,880 | $61,460 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 240 | $42,800 | $50,310 | $60,010 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 190 | $42,610 | $46,260 | $68,130 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 160 | $49,320 | $56,630 | $74,210 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 160 | $49,320 | $56,630 | $74,210 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 120 | $63,670 | $68,640 | $75,480 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 110 | $50,940 | $60,830 | $62,840 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 110 | $75,700 | $87,730 | $91,530 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 100 | $44,020 | $47,630 | $65,130 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 80 | $53,270 | $53,270 | $58,540 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 80 | $37,680 | $37,880 | $50,440 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 70 | $56,380 | $69,910 | $76,960 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 70 | $47,950 | $59,060 | $71,050 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 60 | $58,910 | $68,700 | $72,860 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 60 | $50,790 | $57,640 | $63,260 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 50 | $56,880 | $56,910 | $61,800 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 50 | $58,910 | $70,180 | $73,270 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 40 | $44,990 | $62,370 | $64,420 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 30 | $72,060 | $86,060 | $96,780 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 30 | $60,550 | $65,460 | $76,140 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $44,610 | $57,000 | $74,680 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For CNC Machine Operator, 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 | $46,250 | $56,150 | $64,910 |
| May 2025 | $47,570 | $58,750 | $67,700 |
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 the decision behind the experience?
The useful evidence is an offset or inspection decision made within the operator's authorization, not a list of equipment or projects. Discuss what information was available during an offset or inspection decision made within the operator's authorization. A clear explanation exposes operating an established setup rather than proving out a new program much better than asking whether the candidate has held the title before.
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 CNC Machine Operator?
The median annual wage for Machinists in the United States was $58,750 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $47,570 and $67,700.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $39,200. 90% earned less than $80,010.
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 CNC Machine Operator at a plant?
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. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 287,050 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
CNC machine operators handle daily inspection and offset decisions, working within established machining setups. This position is measured as part of the Machinists (SOC 51-4041) category, which has a national median of $58,750, reflecting a $2,600 change from the May 2024 median of $56,150.
The middle band width is $20,130, spanning from $47,570 at the P25 to $67,700 at the P75. BLS figures consist of base wages and omit production-linked incentives.
Manufacturing industry data provides specific insights for CNC roles. Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing reports a median of $108,490, while Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing reports $88,750. These industry-specific benchmarks indicate higher pay in high-value sectors. The BLS does not separate operator levels, so these broader industry averages offer a necessary, if limited, comparison tool for hiring managers establishing base compensation levels.
Regional variations are evident in metropolitan data. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI reports a median of $62,070 with a middle band width of $24,440. Manufacturing Headhunters tracks these figures as primary indicators for CNC hiring competitiveness. The location quotient is an employment concentration statistic, not a measure of available talent or pay capacity. This operator role focuses on maintaining production quality rather than proving out new programs. Utilize the provided middle band width to ensure salary offers align with industry benchmarks for established CNC operations.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How should I interpret the broad Machinists code for my CNC operators?
Since this category covers all machinist roles, the P25 to P75 middle band width is your best reference point. Use this range to set your initial pay expectations.
Why do the industry medians vary so much from the national average?
Industries such as Petroleum and Coal Products require specialized skill sets, leading to higher pay premiums. Align your budget with these industrial rows if you are hiring for high-complexity sites.
Does the median pay include machine performance bonuses?
No, the BLS figures strictly report base wage data. You must budget for performance incentives and shift differentials separately when making your hiring offer.
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