Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Setup Machinist pay in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
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The median annual wage for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX was $50,280 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $41,600 and $60,610.
The Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX median is $410 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 houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $34,850 | $41,600 | $50,280 | $60,610 | $71,650 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $16.75 | $20.00 | $24.17 | $29.14 | $34.45 |
BLS estimated 5,200 workers employed in this occupation in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX. Location quotient: 1.45.
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 $50,280. The all-occupations median in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX is $49,410. Ratio: 1.02 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.45 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 | $39,730 | $50,200 | $61,870 |
| May 2025 | $41,600 | $50,280 | $60,610 |
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, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $46,550 | $39,290 to $57,280 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $47,990 | $33,260 to $64,420 |
All roles in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · National page · CNC Setup Machinist ranked across metros