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CNC programmer: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $47,530lowest 10% earn less
- $58,27025th percentile
- $68,120median
- $81,89075th percentile
- $100,320top 10% earn more
The median CNC programmer earned $68,120 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +5.9%[2]
- Openings per year
- 2,700[5]
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award[6]
How much do CNC programmers make?
BLS calls this job Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers. In May 2025, the median wage was $68,120 a year, or $32.75 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) was $72,210 a year, or $34.72 an hour[7].
The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job sits above the all-occupations median.
Pay varies a lot within the job. Here are the annual percentiles[3]:
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th[3][8] | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| 25th[3][8] | $58,270 | $28.01 |
| 75th[3][8] | $81,890 | $39.37 |
| 90th[3][8] | $100,320 | $48.23 |
A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,530[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].
These figures cover part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10].
Pay by state and city
Among the 43 states with published data, Connecticut had the highest median at $86,390, followed by California at $82,090 and Massachusetts at $81,670[11]. Mississippi had the lowest median in that list at $50,190[11].
California had the most jobs at 2,990[12]. Ohio (2,370), Michigan (2,300), Texas (1,930) and Wisconsin (1,610) came next[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $102,980[13]. Wichita, KS followed at $99,790[13]. St. Louis, MO-IL was next at $94,230[13]. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area had the most jobs at 1,350, with a median of $82,950[14].
Show median pay in 43 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut[11] | $86,390 | 500 |
| California | $82,090 | 2,990 |
| Massachusetts | $81,670 | 680 |
| Washington | $81,420 | 660 |
| Missouri | $78,130 | 430 |
| Vermont | $77,980 | 140 |
| Kansas | $76,080 | 680 |
| North Dakota | $75,990 | 40 |
| Oregon | $75,150 | 500 |
| Arizona | $74,450 | 470 |
| Virginia | $74,390 | 330 |
| Minnesota | $74,190 | 1,250 |
| Maine | $72,920 | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $71,680 | 290 |
| Montana | $70,860 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $70,460 | 520 |
| Tennessee | $69,700 | 330 |
| Colorado | $69,570 | 410 |
| Texas | $69,550 | 1,930 |
| South Carolina | $69,470 | 340 |
| Illinois | $68,830 | 1,070 |
| New York | $68,730 | 1,140 |
| Wisconsin | $67,460 | 1,610 |
| South Dakota | $66,650 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,330 | 1,080 |
| Maryland | $65,670 | 200 |
| Utah | $65,610 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $65,590 | 330 |
| Kentucky | $64,980 | 230 |
| Michigan | $64,640 | 2,300 |
| Alabama | $64,590 | 420 |
| North Carolina | $63,990 | 760 |
| Florida | $63,970 | 770 |
| Idaho | $63,560 | 120 |
| Indiana | $63,200 | 1,490 |
| Nebraska | $63,190 | 70 |
| Rhode Island | $62,640 | 70 |
| Georgia | $61,360 | 420 |
| Ohio | $60,080 | 2,370 |
| Iowa | $57,780 | 640 |
| Nevada | $57,210 | 130 |
| Arkansas | $56,390 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $50,190 | 140 |
How to become a CNC programmer
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience in a related occupation and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
The BLS handbook profile covers a wider group of occupations, so the training details below come from that wider profile[15]. Here is the path it describes:
- First: Finish high school. Courses in programming, math and vocational technology may be useful[16].
- Next: Take coursework beyond high school. The handbook says CNC tool programmers usually need it, and some community colleges and other schools teach courses and certificates that cover CNC programming[17].
- Then: Learn on the job. Learning CAD and CAM software and CNC equipment may be helpful[18]. For CNC tool operators in the wider group, training may take up to 1 year[19].
In an O*NET survey of 23 workers[20], 33% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[20]. Another 31% said a post-secondary certificate, 20% said some college courses and 14% said an associate's degree[20]. Education levels under 5% were not listed[20].
The handbook also says certification can show competence and can help with advancement[21].
What CNC programmers do
O*NET describes the job as writing programs that control how automatic machine tools shape or process materials. Workers may also set up, operate or maintain equipment[22]. Common tasks include[23]:
- Plan the order of machine operations and pick the cutting tools for each part.
- Study job orders, drawings and specifications to work out dimensions, machine speeds and feed rates.
- Work out cutting paths, reference points and hole locations.
- Write programs in the language of the machine's controller.
- Watch trial runs or run simulations to check that programs work and parts meet specifications.
- Fix errors in programs and retest them.
- Change existing programs to make them more efficient.
- Group shop orders to save material and cut machine setup time.
Where they work
The workplace details here come from the handbook profile for the wider group of metal and plastic machine workers[15]. Fabricated metal product manufacturing was the largest employer in that group, at 25%[24].
The handbook says full-time work is the norm for that group, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[25]. Because many plants run machines for long stretches, evening and weekend work is also common[25].
The machines can be powerful and fast, so workers follow safety rules. Operators usually wear protective gear such as safety glasses, earplugs and steel-toed boots[26]. Standing for long periods and repetitive tasks are part of the work in that group[27].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of CNC tool programmers to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 28,600 to 30,300 jobs, a change of +1,700[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[28]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, who made up 0.5% of the job in 2025[2][29].
About 2,700 openings are projected each year on average[5]. Openings count jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, as well as brand new jobs[5]. Each year, 2.6% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 6.1% to move to a different occupation[30].
BLS names one factor behind the growth: manufacturers are adding more CNC, automated and programmable machines that need programming by these workers[31].
Is it a good fit?
The facts point to a job with pay above the all-occupations median[1][4]. Entry usually calls for some training after high school, and no related work experience is typical[6]. Jobs are projected to grow faster than the all-occupations rate[2][28]. The job suits people who are comfortable with machines and computers, since the handbook names mechanical and computer skills as important in the wider group[32][33]. Pay differs by state and city, so local figures matter[11][13].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNC programmer make an hour?
- The median was $32.75 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $34.72[1][7]. The 10th percentile was $22.85 and the 90th was $48.23[8].
- What education do you need to be a CNC programmer?
- BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education[6]. The handbook says these workers usually need coursework beyond high school[17].
- Is CNC programming in demand?
- BLS projects 5.9% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 2,700 openings a year[2][28][5].
- What is the highest paying state for CNC programmers?
- Connecticut had the highest median at $86,390, followed by California at $82,090[11].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in the US was $68,120 per year and $32.75 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers is projected to grow 5.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 28,600 to 30,300 jobs (a change of +1,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers: 10th percentile $47,530, 25th percentile $58,270, 75th percentile $81,890, 90th percentile $100,320. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 2,700 openings for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers was $72,210 per year and $34.72 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers: 10th percentile $22.85, 25th percentile $28.01, 75th percentile $39.37, 90th percentile $48.23. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers jobs: California 2,990; Ohio 2,370; Michigan 2,300; Texas 1,930; Wisconsin 1,610. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $102,980; Wichita, KS $99,790; St. Louis, MO-IL $94,230; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $93,640; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $89,190; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $86,860; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $85,560; Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $84,260. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,350 (median $82,950); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 1,030 (median $65,870); Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 850 (median $78,010); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 800 (median $69,400); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 780 (median $71,310); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 720 (median $69,820). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Metal and Plastic Machine Workers" covers Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 51-9162.00 survey of workers (23 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 33%, Post-Secondary Certificate 31%, Some College Courses 20%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 14% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of metal and plastic machine workers in 2025: Fabricated metal product manufacturing 25%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: 0.5% of Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers: 2.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers: Demand change - share increases as manufacturers increase efficiency through more computer numerically controlled (CNC), automated, and programmable machines requiring programming by these workers. BLS Employment Projections
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.