Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Machinist pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Machinists in Raleigh-Cary, NC was $61,430 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $49,040 and $65,160.
The Raleigh-Cary, NC median is $2,680 above the national median of $58,750, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-4041 Machinists
CNC Machinist 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.
What should you know about raleigh-Cary, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,940 | $49,040 | $61,430 | $65,160 | $72,020 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $19.20 | $23.58 | $29.53 | $31.33 | $34.62 |
BLS estimated 570 workers employed in this occupation in Raleigh-Cary, NC. Location quotient: 0.42.
What should you know about united States?
| 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 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published CNC Machinist median is $61,430. The all-occupations median in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $51,990. Ratio: 1.18 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.42 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $49,180 | $61,040 | $63,230 |
| May 2025 | $49,040 | $61,430 | $65,160 |
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.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4041 Machinists, Raleigh-Cary, NC. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
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.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Goldsboro, NC | $59,790 | $46,890 to $59,790 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $56,920 | $45,980 to $76,300 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
In the Raleigh-Cary, NC, area, CNC Machinists are evaluated under the broader Machinists (SOC 51-4041) category. Core tasks involve using NIMS credentials, reading prints and GD&T, and operating control platforms like industrial robot controllers, CNC control systems, conversational CNC controls, CNC operating controls, or integrated automation.
Manufacturing Headhunters presents this data to help hiring managers calibrate their offers according to the May 2025 official statistics.
The local median wage is $61,430, a change of 390 compared to the previous year. The middle-band width is 16120. For CNC Machinist in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $61,430; the May 2024 median is $61,040. Their arithmetic difference is $390. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. National industry data, provided for context, includes $108,490 for Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing and $88,750 for Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing.
Raleigh is compared to the Goldsboro and Rocky Mount metros. Goldsboro reports a median of $59,790, and Rocky Mount reports $56,920. The location quotient for Raleigh is 0.42. These figures reflect industrial concentration within these specific labor markets. For CNC Machinist in Raleigh-Cary, NC, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded.
This report uses exact data from the May 2025 release. No estimates are used for missing figures. For CNC Machinist in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $61,430; the May 2024 median is $61,040. Their arithmetic difference is $390. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. Employers should compare these figures to their specific operational needs and technician skill requirements, recognizing that the broad Machinist occupational definition covers a diverse set of industrial tasks and seniority levels.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What is the local median for machinists in Raleigh?
The median annual wage for Machinists in the Raleigh-Cary metro is $61,430. This figure is derived from the official May 2025 BLS data.
How does the Raleigh median compare to the national occupational median?
The Raleigh median of $61,430 is higher than the national median of $58,750 for Machinists. This suggests a competitive wage positioning within the region.
Does the data account for specific CNC platform experience?
No, the data is aggregated for the entire Machinists occupation. It does not separate or weight wages by proficiency in specific control platforms like industrial robot controllers or CNC control systems.
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