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Salary guide, May 2025

CNC Setup Machinist pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA was $54,910 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $45,920 and $63,500.

The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA median is $4,220 above 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 san Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?

$54,910
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA: median $54,910; published 25th to 75th percentile $45,920 to $63,500.
Annual wage percentiles, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
10th25thMedian75th90th
$39,410$45,920$54,910$63,500$77,480
$26.40
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA: median $26.40; published 25th to 75th percentile $22.08 to $30.53.
Hourly wage percentiles, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
10th25thMedian75th90th
$18.95$22.08$26.40$30.53$37.25

BLS estimated 1,960 workers employed in this occupation in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. Location quotient: 1.17.

What should you know about united States?

$50,690
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in U.S.: median $50,690; published 25th to 75th percentile $44,930 to $61,760.
Annual wage percentiles, U.S.
10th25thMedian75th90th
$38,140$44,930$50,690$61,760$73,890
$24.37
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in U.S.: median $24.37; published 25th to 75th percentile $21.60 to $29.69.
Hourly wage percentiles, U.S.
10th25thMedian75th90th
$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 $54,910. The all-occupations median in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $58,690. Ratio: 0.94 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.17 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?

CNC Setup Machinist in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, annual wages, May 2024 and May 2025
Release period25thMedian75th
May 2024$45,920$53,910$63,750
May 2025$45,920$54,910$63,500

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, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA. 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?

Nearby areas, CNC Setup Machinist
AreaMedian25th to 75th
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$54,980$47,130 to $63,460
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$49,460$44,930 to $60,740

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