Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Setup Machinist pay in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
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 Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ was $58,900 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $47,020 and $64,850.
The Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ median is $8,210 above the national median of $50,690, both from BLS May 2025.
BLS publishes the wider New York-Newark-Jersey City metro, not Northern New Jersey separately.
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 northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $37,560 | $47,020 | $58,900 | $64,850 | $74,980 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.06 | $22.61 | $28.32 | $31.18 | $36.05 |
BLS estimated 2,770 workers employed in this occupation in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Location quotient: 0.27.
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 $58,900. The all-occupations median in Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $61,430. Ratio: 0.96 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.27 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 | $48,180 | $58,070 | $64,600 |
| May 2025 | $47,020 | $58,900 | $64,850 |
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, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $60,600 | $51,420 to $67,850 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $53,680 | $44,990 to $65,110 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
In the Northern New Jersey area of the larger New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro, the CNC Setup Machinist role is classified under the SOC 51-9161 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators occupation. The May 2025 median wage for this group is $58,900, down from $58,070 in May 2024.
The middle-band width is $17,830, derived from a P25 of $47,020 and a P75 of $64,850. Manufacturing Headhunters emphasizes that this data reflects the entire metro area, as BLS does not provide separate wage statistics for Northern New Jersey.
The metro median of $58,900 is higher than the national median of $50,690 for this occupation. Nearby comparison regions report distinct medians: Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury at $60,600 and Trenton-Princeton at $53,680. The location quotient for this area is 0.27, showing a concentration of these operators below the national average. Notably, these salary figures from the BLS do not capture additional compensation such as tool allowances or performance bonuses, which are standard for high-skill setup machinist recruiting.
National manufacturing industry rows provide supplementary wage data for context. National median wages include $66,970 for Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing, $63,750 for Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing, and $63,170 for specific Chemical Manufacturing industries. These sectors often define their own specialized requirements for operators. CNC setup machinist candidates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in G-code editing, fixture management, and first-piece approval on equipment identical to the client's platform.
The median change for this metro is 830, slightly above the national change of 720. The P10 of $37,560 and P90 of $74,980 establish the current earnings spectrum in the region. Since the BLS occupation mapping is broader than the specific title of setup machinist, these numbers should be evaluated in conjunction with the candidate's actual technical depth and setup capability. Hiring managers should rely on these bounds to maintain market competitiveness while ensuring that offers properly reflect the specific setup demands of their facility.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
How does the median pay in this metro area compare to the national CNC operator median?
The regional median of $58,900 is higher than the national median of $50,690. This indicates the regional labor market for tool operators is sound.
Does the BLS data specifically target setup machinists in Northern New Jersey?
No, the data is for the entire New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area under the broad SOC 51-9161 classification. It does not differentiate Northern New Jersey or the specific setup machinist role.
What is the P25 to P75 band width for this metro?
The middle-band width is $17,830, spanning the P25 of $47,020 and the P75 of $64,850. This indicates the typical pay spread for the majority of operators in the region.
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