Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Programmer pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA was $60,330 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $54,990 and $64,820.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA median is $7,790 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 waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44,890 | $54,990 | $60,330 | $64,820 | $75,510 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $21.58 | $26.44 | $29.00 | $31.16 | $36.30 |
BLS estimated 60 workers employed in this occupation in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. Location quotient: 3.72.
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 $60,330. The all-occupations median in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is $47,430. Ratio: 1.27 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 3.72 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 | $43,490 | $57,560 | $64,480 |
| May 2025 | $54,990 | $60,330 | $64,820 |
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, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $59,050 | $48,130 to $74,460 |
| Dubuque, IA | $55,770 | $50,390 to $60,420 |
All roles in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · National page · CNC Programmer ranked across metros