Salary guide, May 2025
CNC 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 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in the United States was $68,120 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $58,270 and $81,890.
Also searched as: CAM Programmer, CNC Programmer / Machinist. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Direct match · SOC 51-9162 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers
The CNC Programmer title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $47,530 | $58,270 | $68,120 | $81,890 | $100,320 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.85 | $28.01 | $32.75 | $39.37 | $48.23 |
BLS estimated 28,500 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-9162 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers, 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 | $62,570 | $51,000 to $79,880 | 190 | 0.36 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $58,910 | $43,060 to $74,480 | 180 | 0.69 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $62,220 | $52,960 to $65,150 | 50 | 0.21 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,660 | $58,040 to $79,880 | 50 | 0.4 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,310 | $56,900 to $84,860 | 780 | 0.45 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $71,310 | $56,900 to $84,860 | 780 | 0.45 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $71,060 | $60,730 to $80,240 | 410 | 0.56 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $69,400 | $61,150 to $82,080 | 800 | 0.97 |
Rank every metro for CNC 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$97,710
- Food Manufacturing$90,380
- Dairy Product Manufacturing$86,190
- Chemical Manufacturing$81,230
- Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only)$81,220
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$78,280
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$78,090
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing$77,170
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$76,960
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$74,830
- Machine Shops$74,090
- Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing$73,670
- Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing$73,210
- Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel$72,480
- Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing$72,400
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 | 24,950 | $58,650 | $68,750 | $82,220 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 9,360 | $60,120 | $68,140 | $80,470 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 5,550 | $60,580 | $69,820 | $80,410 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 5,420 | $61,610 | $73,670 | $85,900 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 4,760 | $61,450 | $74,090 | $86,950 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 3,690 | $59,860 | $76,960 | $99,790 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 2,670 | $61,930 | $70,700 | $81,710 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 2,420 | $58,650 | $65,880 | $78,630 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 2,330 | $60,280 | $66,860 | $74,460 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 2,060 | $78,430 | $97,710 | $107,780 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 1,570 | $56,670 | $63,310 | $74,170 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 1,260 | $47,910 | $57,520 | $71,810 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,210 | $55,540 | $68,960 | $83,980 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 1,180 | $46,020 | $50,180 | $77,380 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 1,150 | $46,020 | $48,980 | $77,110 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 1,050 | $61,630 | $72,380 | $85,790 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 670 | $62,520 | $72,400 | $78,630 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 670 | $49,940 | $60,700 | $71,890 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 670 | $49,940 | $60,740 | $71,900 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 640 | $61,190 | $77,170 | $90,840 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 580 | $52,920 | $62,970 | $78,650 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 570 | $51,870 | $60,650 | $77,150 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 570 | $51,870 | $60,650 | $77,150 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 570 | $61,210 | $70,480 | $84,470 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 530 | $55,730 | $66,910 | $82,270 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 510 | $51,520 | $63,010 | $76,010 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 400 | $65,040 | $78,280 | $103,360 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 250 | $55,370 | $63,940 | $78,430 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 250 | $69,570 | $78,090 | $84,550 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 250 | $55,730 | $64,410 | $81,290 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 230 | $58,650 | $69,550 | $77,020 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 210 | $63,540 | $73,210 | $83,060 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 200 | $56,680 | $67,250 | $76,810 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 160 | $56,130 | $69,060 | $85,890 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 110 | $61,520 | $67,490 | $79,330 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 110 | $61,520 | $67,490 | $79,330 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 100 | $50,240 | $58,850 | $67,740 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 100 | $54,590 | $60,820 | $68,940 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 90 | $56,900 | $59,700 | $64,440 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 90 | $52,750 | $63,290 | $73,080 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 90 | $57,820 | $67,380 | $79,400 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 80 | $64,800 | $81,230 | $83,660 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 70 | $82,260 | $90,380 | $93,660 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 70 | $50,160 | $65,800 | $76,920 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 70 | $61,460 | $68,660 | $82,370 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 60 | $56,890 | $58,070 | $60,780 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 50 | $63,730 | $72,480 | $78,500 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 40 | $44,940 | $55,350 | $71,120 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 40 | $52,280 | $65,470 | $72,730 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 40 | $63,460 | $74,830 | $90,320 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 40 | $45,500 | $65,610 | $78,270 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 30 | $85,410 | $86,190 | $93,660 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 30 | $54,500 | $60,630 | $63,870 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 30 | $64,270 | $70,880 | $87,950 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 30 | $58,580 | $65,190 | $80,300 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | Not published by BLS | $57,770 | $81,220 | $81,260 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $49,350 | $51,110 | $70,300 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For CNC 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 | $55,960 | $65,670 | $80,300 |
| May 2025 | $58,270 | $68,120 | $81,890 |
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 setup sheets and cycle-time work?
A programmer leaves behind more than code. Setup sheets, tool lists and fixture notes let an operator run the job. We ask to hear how the candidate documents a job. We also ask how they improved a cycle by changing tooling or strategy, and what they gave up to do it.
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 Programmer?
The median annual wage for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in the United States was $68,120 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $58,270 and $81,890.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $47,530. 90% earned less than $100,320.
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 Programmer at a plant?
The CNC Programmer title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 28,500 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters reports on the CNC Programmer occupation, which aligns with the Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers SOC. The May 2025 national median is $68,120, a medianChange of $2,450 from May 2024. The middleBandWidth of $23,620 shows a clear range, reflecting the difference between programmers with limited machine experience and those with full multi-axis and CAM software expertise.
This SOC is more specific than general operator titles, providing a clearer look at programmer pay.
National industry data indicates high premiums for CNC programmers in specialized fields. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing reports a median of $97,710, and Food Manufacturing reports $90,380. Dairy Product Manufacturing lists $86,190. These figures far exceed the national occupational median for programmers, illustrating the value of high-precision programming. BLS data excludes non-salary components like production performance bonuses or cycle-time reduction incentives.
Regional markets show interesting differences. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim lists a median of $82,950 with a location quotient of 1.17. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn records a median of $65,870 with a location quotient of 2.96. Detroit shows nearly triple the concentration of programmers compared to the national average, yet the median salary is lower than in Los Angeles. These differences demonstrate that industry-specific local market conditions impact programmer pay beyond just employment concentration.
CNC Programmers must master CAM software like machining CAM software or integrated CAD/CAM tools, alongside post-processor work and multi-axis toolpaths. The SOC mapping for this role is more direct than for operators, yet it still fails to account for the specific machine brand or the complexity of the part being programmed. Hiring managers should focus on CAM software portfolio and cycle-time optimization ability during screening, as these technical skills command pay levels well above the reported median.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Is the $68,120 median for programmers sufficient for high-level multi-axis programming?
The $68,120 median covers all types of programming and likely underestimates the total pay for high-complexity multi-axis work. Expert programmers with multi-axis CAM skills typically command pay near or above the p75 level of $81,890.
Why does Detroit have a higher location quotient than Los Angeles for programmers?
The 2.96 location quotient in Detroit reflects the significant automotive and aerospace manufacturing presence there, leading to a higher concentration of programmers. It indicates a hub for the trade but does not dictate current local salary rates.
Do these programmer salaries include bonuses for cycle-time reduction?
No, the BLS figures are base annual salary data and exclude any performance-based bonuses tied to cycle-time reductions or production goals.
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