Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Programmer pay in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
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 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL was $58,910 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $43,060 and $74,480.
The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL median is $9,210 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 tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,600 | $43,060 | $58,910 | $74,480 | $85,450 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.60 | $20.70 | $28.32 | $35.81 | $41.08 |
BLS estimated 180 workers employed in this occupation in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. Location quotient: 0.69.
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 $58,910. The all-occupations median in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL is $48,940. Ratio: 1.20 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.69 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 | $48,780 | $64,930 | $81,710 |
| May 2025 | $43,060 | $58,910 | $74,480 |
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, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $66,670 | $55,140 to $78,880 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $62,220 | $52,960 to $65,150 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area, the CNC Programmer role is classified under the SOC 51-9162 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers occupation. For CNC Programmer in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $58,910; the May 2024 median is $64,930. Their arithmetic difference is -$6,020.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle-band width is $31,420, derived from a P25 of $43,060 and a P75 of $74,480. Manufacturing Headhunters emphasizes that this data encompasses the broad SOC occupation, and even though duties align, the BLS does not distinguish between unique plant-specific software or tooling complexities.
The metro median of $58,910 is lower than the national median of $68,120. Nearby metros exhibit varied pay: North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota has a median of $66,670, while Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford reports a median of $62,220. The Tampa metro location quotient of 0.69 shows an employment concentration below the national level. For CNC Programmer in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, 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.
National manufacturing industry rows provide useful benchmarks. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing reports a national median of $97,710, while Food Manufacturing reports $90,380 and Dairy Product Manufacturing reports $86,190. These industries typically require high-level programming expertise. Candidates are assessed on their mastery of CAM software such as machining CAM software, multi-axis CAM software, or integrated CAD/CAM CAM, as well as their proficiency in optimizing cycle times through sophisticated toolpathing.
For CNC Programmer in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $58,910; the May 2024 median is $64,930. Their arithmetic difference is -$6,020. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The P10 of $36,600 and P90 of $85,450 represent the current earnings spectrum in the region. Recruiters must consider these bounds while tailoring compensation to the specific programming complexity and software requirements of their client’s manufacturing process.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the Tampa metro CNC programmer median compare to the national median?
The Tampa metro median of $58,910 is lower than the national median of $68,120. This indicates the local market for CNC programmers is below national occupational wage levels.
What is the P25 to P75 range in Tampa?
The middle-band width is $31,420, representing the variance between the 25th percentile of $43,060 and the 75th percentile of $74,480.
What technical skills are prioritized for CNC programmers in this market?
Candidates are screened for skills in CAM software including machining CAM software, multi-axis CAM software, or integrated CAD/CAM tools, along with experience in managing multi-axis toolpaths and reducing cycle times.
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