Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Programmer pay in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
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 Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ was $71,310 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $56,900 and $84,860.
The Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ median is $3,190 above the national median of $68,120, both from BLS May 2025.
BLS publishes the wider New York-Newark-Jersey City metro, not Northern New Jersey separately.
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 northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $37,200 | $56,900 | $71,310 | $84,860 | $99,870 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.88 | $27.36 | $34.28 | $40.80 | $48.01 |
BLS estimated 780 workers employed in this occupation in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Location quotient: 0.45.
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 $71,310. The all-occupations median in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $61,430. Ratio: 1.16 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.45 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 | $53,230 | $68,760 | $82,940 |
| May 2025 | $56,900 | $71,310 | $84,860 |
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, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $87,880 | $65,830 to $98,460 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $79,480 | $66,930 to $86,130 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters reports on Northern New Jersey, which is included within the larger New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area. The local data identifies 780 CNC programmers. These professionals utilize CAM tools like machining CAM software, integrated CAD/CAM tools, and machining CAM software to execute multi-axis toolpaths and manage post-processors.
The current median wage is $71,310, with a middle band width of $27,960. Nationally, manufacturing sectors report varying medians, including $97,710 for Aerospace, $90,380 for Food Manufacturing, and $86,190 for Dairy Product Manufacturing. For CNC Programmer in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, 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 Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $71,310; the May 2024 median is $68,760. Their arithmetic difference is $2,550. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. Northern New Jersey currently has a location quotient of 0.45, reflecting a lower employment concentration of this occupation compared to the national baseline. Nearby comparison metros include Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, with a median of $87,880, and Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, with a median of $79,480. These areas represent significant employment hubs for CNC talent. The variance between these medians suggests that labor markets within the greater region operate with distinct wage profiles, influenced by local demand for high-skill programming.
For hiring managers, the middle band width of $27,960 highlights a broad spectrum of experience and capability. With the mean at $71,870, the average pay is consistent with the median. This indicates that while the market is diverse, the bulk of programmers are clustered toward the middle. Because the BLS reports combine all industrial employers, these numbers are best used as a broad benchmark. Managers should assess their internal requirements for setup sheets, cycle-time reductions, and multi-axis expertise against these figures to determine competitive positioning. The data provided reflects total annual wages but excludes non-cash compensation that may be critical to recruitment in the New Jersey manufacturing market.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Does Northern New Jersey have a separate BLS data set from the New York metro?
No, the BLS publishes data for the wider New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area. Northern New Jersey is analyzed as part of this unified statistical reporting.
How do local medians in Northern New Jersey compare to nearby high-employment metros?
The local median of $71,310 is lower than the median in Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury at $87,880. It is also lower than the median in Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh at $79,480.
What is the primary scope of the national industry rows provided?
The national industry rows, such as Aerospace and Food Manufacturing, show national median wages for the occupation within those specific industries. They are intended for broad contextual comparison rather than local wage setting.
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