Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Programmer pay in Durham-Chapel Hill, 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 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC was $51,540 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $47,120 and $66,340.
The Durham-Chapel Hill, NC median is $16,580 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 durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44,920 | $47,120 | $51,540 | $66,340 | $68,150 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $21.60 | $22.65 | $24.78 | $31.89 | $32.76 |
BLS estimated 30 workers employed in this occupation in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. Location quotient: 0.51.
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 $51,540. The all-occupations median in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $60,720. Ratio: 0.85 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.51 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 | $48,870 | $57,490 | $69,020 |
| May 2025 | $47,120 | $51,540 | $66,340 |
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, Durham-Chapel Hill, 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 51-9162 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $69,070 | $57,860 to $80,760 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $65,660 | $58,040 to $79,880 |
All roles in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · National page · CNC Programmer ranked across metros