Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Programmer pay in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX was $71,060 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $60,730 and $80,240.
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX median is $2,940 above the national median of $68,120, both from BLS May 2025.
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.
What should you know about dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $43,690 | $60,730 | $71,060 | $80,240 | $114,830 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $21.00 | $29.20 | $34.16 | $38.58 | $55.21 |
BLS estimated 410 workers employed in this occupation in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX. Location quotient: 0.56.
What should you know about united States?
| 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 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published CNC Programmer median is $71,060. The all-occupations median in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX is $51,440. Ratio: 1.38 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.56 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 | $50,370 | $70,550 | $80,600 |
| May 2025 | $60,730 | $71,060 | $80,240 |
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 51-9162 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX. 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 51-9162 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Longview, TX | $62,130 | $57,510 to $69,570 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $66,950 | $52,490 to $81,970 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters evaluates the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area, which reports 410 CNC programmers. Success in this role demands expertise in CAM software like machining CAM software, multi-axis CAM software, and integrated CAD/CAM tools for multi-axis toolpaths and cycle-time optimization. The local median annual wage is $71,060, and the middle band width is $19,510.
This is narrower than the national middle band width of $23,620. National industry medians for the occupation are $97,710 for Aerospace, $90,380 for Food Manufacturing, and $86,190 for Dairy Product Manufacturing. For CNC Programmer in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, 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.
For CNC Programmer in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $71,060; the May 2024 median is $70,550. Their arithmetic difference is $510. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. Dallas possesses a location quotient of 0.56, meaning the occupation is less concentrated here than at the national level. Nearby metro comparisons include Longview, TX, with a median of $62,130, and Oklahoma City, OK, with a median of $66,950. These cities represent major hubs for manufacturing employment. The data reveals that the Dallas median of $71,060 is higher than both comparison hubs, reflecting the specific regional demand for skilled CNC programmers within this large metropolitan market.
With a mean wage of $76,010, the data suggests that top-end earners in Dallas pull the average significantly higher than the median. The P90 of $114,830 confirms that advanced, specialized programming talent earns well above the median in this market. Hiring managers should evaluate the middle band width of $19,510 against their specific requirements for setup efficiency and CAM proficiency. For CNC Programmer in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $60,730 to $80,240 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them. This data provides a foundational look at the Dallas market without reflecting the specific benefits or non-wage variables that distinguish individual employer offerings.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
For CNC Programmer in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $71,060; the May 2024 median is $70,550. Their arithmetic difference is $510. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
Is the Dallas CNC programmer median growing faster than the national median?
For CNC Programmer in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $71,060; the May 2024 median is $70,550. Their arithmetic difference is $510. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
What does the P90 value of $114,830 indicate for the Dallas market?
For CNC Programmer in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $60,730 to $80,240 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them.
What is the significance of the location quotient for Dallas?
A location quotient of 0.56 means that CNC programming roles are less concentrated in the Dallas metro area than they are nationwide. It does not reflect local candidate availability or hourly pay rates.
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