Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Setup Machinist pay in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA was $51,600 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $50,380 and $60,170.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA median is $910 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 waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $47,070 | $50,380 | $51,600 | $60,170 | $63,460 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.63 | $24.22 | $24.81 | $28.93 | $30.51 |
BLS estimated 720 workers employed in this occupation in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. Location quotient: 7.79.
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 $51,600. The all-occupations median in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA is $47,430. Ratio: 1.09 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 7.79 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 | $48,420 | $48,420 | $60,120 |
| May 2025 | $50,380 | $51,600 | $60,170 |
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, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $57,170 | $46,710 to $66,100 |
| Ames, IA | $47,330 | $46,120 to $53,620 |
All roles in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA · National page · CNC Setup Machinist ranked across metros