Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Programmer pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA was $67,650 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $59,770 and $80,810.
The Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA median is $470 below 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 des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $52,300 | $59,770 | $67,650 | $80,810 | $94,990 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.14 | $28.74 | $32.53 | $38.85 | $45.67 |
BLS estimated 80 workers employed in this occupation in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. Location quotient: 1.07.
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 $67,650. The all-occupations median in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $51,820. Ratio: 1.31 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.07 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 | $56,440 | $65,580 | $69,690 |
| May 2025 | $59,770 | $67,650 | $80,810 |
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, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $60,330 | $54,990 to $64,820 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $59,050 | $48,130 to $74,460 |
All roles in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA · National page · CNC Programmer ranked across metros