Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Setup Machinist 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 Operators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC was $48,560 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $43,920 and $54,080.
The Durham-Chapel Hill, NC median is $2,130 below the national median of $50,690, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-9161 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
The CNC Setup Machinist title maps to the published occupation. BLS does not separate this process, credential, shift or plant-specific title from other work in the occupation.
What should you know about durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38,070 | $43,920 | $48,560 | $54,080 | $63,470 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.30 | $21.11 | $23.34 | $26.00 | $30.51 |
BLS estimated 70 workers employed in this occupation in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. Location quotient: 0.17.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38,140 | $44,930 | $50,690 | $61,760 | $73,890 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.34 | $21.60 | $24.37 | $29.69 | $35.53 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published CNC Setup Machinist median is $48,560. The all-occupations median in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $60,720. Ratio: 0.80 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.17 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 | $44,590 | $47,730 | $65,530 |
| May 2025 | $43,920 | $48,560 | $54,080 |
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 51-9161 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators, 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 51-9161 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | $46,940 | $36,780 to $59,490 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $47,930 | $38,380 to $64,080 |
All roles in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · National page · CNC Setup Machinist ranked across metros