Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Programmer pay in Raleigh-Cary, NC
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC was $65,660 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $58,040 and $79,880.
The Raleigh-Cary, NC median is $2,460 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 raleigh-Cary, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $48,330 | $58,040 | $65,660 | $79,880 | $96,180 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $23.23 | $27.91 | $31.57 | $38.40 | $46.24 |
BLS estimated 50 workers employed in this occupation in Raleigh-Cary, NC. Location quotient: 0.4.
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 $65,660. The all-occupations median in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $51,990. Ratio: 1.26 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.4 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 | $51,060 | $59,720 | $73,240 |
| May 2025 | $58,040 | $65,660 | $79,880 |
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, Raleigh-Cary, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $51,540 | $47,120 to $66,340 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $69,070 | $57,860 to $80,760 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
In Raleigh-Cary, Manufacturing Headhunters identifies 50 CNC programmers. The local median stands at $65,660. Essential duties involve deploying CAM software like machining CAM software, multi-axis CAM software, or integrated CAD/CAM CAM to create efficient multi-axis toolpaths and maintain setup sheets.
National industry rows show Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing at a median of $97,710, Food Manufacturing at $90,380, and Dairy Product Manufacturing at $86,190. These industry figures are national benchmarks and do not reflect local pay levels. For CNC Programmer in Raleigh-Cary, NC, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $65,660; the May 2024 median is $59,720. Their arithmetic difference is $5,940. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The local location quotient is 0.4, showing that the concentration of this occupation is below the national average. Regional comparisons include Durham-Chapel Hill, with a median of $51,540, and Greensboro-High Point, which shows a median of $69,070. These metros are selected based on their status as high-employment hubs for this specific role. The variation in these medians highlights significant differences in local market pressures for CNC talent across the state.
For CNC Programmer in Raleigh-Cary, NC, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $58,040 to $79,880 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. With a mean wage of $70,170, the data shows an upward pull, likely from senior-level programming tasks requiring advanced setup and cycle-time reduction experience. Because BLS data aggregates all employer types within the SOC code, it includes varied plant settings. Hiring managers should note that these figures represent annual compensation and do not account for the additional value of specific machine shop certifications or proprietary software proficiencies. The data remains a snapshot of reported occupation totals rather than an estimate of individual candidate requirements or relocation willingness.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
For CNC Programmer in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $65,660; the May 2024 median is $59,720. Their arithmetic difference is $5,940. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
How did the Raleigh CNC programmer median change over the last year?
For CNC Programmer in Raleigh-Cary, NC, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $65,660; the May 2024 median is $59,720. Their arithmetic difference is $5,940. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
What is the difference between the Raleigh middle band width and the national one?
Raleigh has a middle band width of $21,840, which is narrower than the national middle band width of $23,620. This suggests lower compensation variance for the middle 50% of the workforce compared to the national average.
Does the Raleigh data include pay components like production bonuses?
For CNC Programmer in Raleigh-Cary, NC, 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. The figures strictly reflect annual wages reported for the occupation.
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