Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Setup Machinist pay in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA was $59,280 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $46,560 and $73,530.
The Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA median is $8,590 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 santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,520 | $46,560 | $59,280 | $73,530 | $79,260 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $19.00 | $22.39 | $28.50 | $35.35 | $38.10 |
BLS estimated 70 workers employed in this occupation in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA. Location quotient: 0.63.
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 $59,280. The all-occupations median in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $54,730. Ratio: 1.08 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.63 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 | $48,980 | $58,680 | $72,680 |
| May 2025 | $46,560 | $59,280 | $73,530 |
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, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,620 | $49,610 to $72,860 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,600 | $47,000 to $72,190 |
All roles in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · National page · CNC Setup Machinist ranked across metros