Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Peer-group outlier SOC 51-9161

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

Median pay sits 32% below the mid peer in Production Occupations (neighbors include Nuclear Power Reactor Operators, Plant and System Operators, All Other, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators, Power Distributors and Dispatchers).

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($123K) , Plant and System Operators, All Other ($62K) , Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators ($79K) , Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($107K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-9161 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Measure dimensions of finished workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments, templates, and…
  2. 2. Set up and operate computer-controlled machines or robots to perform one or more machine functions on metal or plastic workpieces
  3. 3. Mount, install, align, and secure tools, attachments, fixtures, and workpieces on machines, using hand tools and precision measuring inst…
  4. 4. Review program specifications or blueprints to determine and set machine operations and sequencing, finished workpiece dimensions, or num…
  5. 5. Stop machines to remove finished workpieces or to change tooling, setup, or workpiece placement, according to required machining sequences
  6. 6. Listen to machines during operation to detect sounds such as those made by dull cutting tools or excessive vibration, and adjust machines…
  7. 7. Implement changes to machine programs, and enter new specifications, using computers
  8. 8. Calculate machine speed and feed ratios and the size and position of cuts
  9. 9. Transfer commands from servers to computer numerical control (CNC) modules, using computer network links
  10. 10. Remove and replace dull cutting tools
  11. 11. Check to ensure that workpieces are properly lubricated and cooled during machine operation
  12. 12. Adjust machine feed and speed, change cutting tools, or adjust machine controls when automatic programming is faulty or if machines malfu…

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators: O*NET ranks Operations Monitoring first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-9161 - lead skill Operations Monitoring at 4.1 ; lead knowledge Mathematics. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Operations Monitoring 4.1
  2. 2. Operation and Control 4.1
  3. 3. Critical Thinking 3.6
  4. 4. Monitoring 3.6
  5. 5. Quality Control Analysis 3.4
  6. 6. Active Listening 3.1
  7. 7. Complex Problem Solving 3.1
  8. 8. Troubleshooting 3.1

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Mathematics 4.2
  2. 2. Production and Processing 4.0
  3. 3. Mechanical 3.8
  4. 4. English Language 3.3
  5. 5. Engineering and Technology 3.3
  6. 6. Education and Training 3.1
Pay vs Production Occupations peers
-32%
vs mid peer median $74,450
This role $50,690/yr
$51K
National median
↓ -11%
Growth 2024-2034
13,500
Annual openings
169,450
Estimated US jobs
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Highest-pay peer · $123K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education High school diploma or equivalent

Top Paying States for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

1. Rhode Island $57,390
2. Vermont $57,500
3. Oregon $56,670
4. Maine $59,660
5. Connecticut $59,840
6. North Dakota $60,250
7. Minnesota $56,780
8. New Hampshire $59,730
9. Washington $107,920
10. Massachusetts $61,630

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators $78,620
  2. 2. Power Distributors and Dispatchers $106,730
  3. 3. Nuclear Power Reactor Operators $122,890
  4. 4. Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters $62,620
  5. 5. Plant and System Operators, All Other $62,470
  6. 6. Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic $63,870

Among Production Occupations peers on this card, Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators sits 32% below the mid peer median ($74,450). Its own median is $50,690.

Employment Projections expect -11% change between 2024 and 2034 (declining vs baseline 3.1%). About 13,500 annual openings are projected. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal requirements. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific safety rate for this role; its broad SOC-group rate is excluded from this career card's grade.

Highest published state median in this ranking: Rhode Island at $57,390. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators at $122,890. Compare the same statistic in the relevant local wage area before treating the national median as a personal benchmark; OEWS excludes employer benefits.

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay-rank #32 in Production Occupations

Among 105 detailed Production Occupations with a published OEWS median, Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators is pay-rank #32, the upper third of that major group. The order is ROW_NUMBER on national median (title as tiebreak), not a worker-level percentile.

Other upper-third titles · closest medians

Full Salary Details Compare this role

Data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024-2034.

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pays 32% below its major-group peer median. See the state map and the peers closest to (and furthest from) this line.

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 51-9161

Rhode Island · top state for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

$57K published median

Vermont · #2 state pay

$58K · behind Rhode Island

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Highest-pay peer vs Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators · $123K

Plant and System Operators, All Other

Lower-pay peer beside Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators · $62K

Compare Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

Head-to-head OEWS medians with another SOC
Compare Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators with another occupation →

Peer-comparison next reads

Compare Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

Against another occupation

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators card

Top peer in this major group

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Production Occupations titles sit near Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators at the top of the pay table? ▼
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators is pay-rank #32 of 105 detailed Production Occupations with an OEWS median, upper third. Nearest upper-third titles: Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ($51K), Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders ($50K), Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic ($50K), Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters ($51K). Rank is ROW_NUMBER on national median.
What do computer numerically controlled tool operators do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators. Leading ones include: Measure dimensions of finished workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments, templates, and…; Set up and operate computer-controlled machines or robots to perform one or more machine functions on metal or plastic workpieces; Mount, install, align, and secure tools, attachments, fixtures, and workpieces on machines, using hand tools and precision measuring inst…; Review program specifications or blueprints to determine and set machine operations and sequencing, finished workpiece dimensions, or num…. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for computer numerically controlled tool operators? ▼
For SOC 51-9161, O*NET importance scores lead with Operations Monitoring (4.1), Operation and Control (4.1), Critical Thinking (3.6), Monitoring (3.6). Knowledge areas emphasize Mathematics, Production and Processing, Mechanical. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $50,690 as the national median for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators. The published 10th-90th range is $38,140 to $73,890. Beside Nuclear Power Reactor Operators ($122,890), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
What employment change does BLS publish for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators? ▼
The 2024-2034 projection for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators is -11%. Projected annual openings: about 13,500. Relative to the current all-occupations baseline of 3.1%: declining.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators? ▼
BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators? ▼
Rhode Island ($57,390), Vermont ($57,500), Oregon ($56,670) lead this ranking. The table does not identify why those state estimates differ.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Wage and state figures use BLS OEWS May 2025; growth and education use BLS Employment Projections for 2024-2034; safety fields cite BLS CFOI/SOII; task statements cite O*NET where shown. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Disclaimer: Wage and outlook figures on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute career, financial, or salary-negotiation advice. Actual pay varies by employer, experience, and local conditions; consult a career counselor or the hiring employer for guidance specific to your situation.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES Occupational wage estimates by area and industry · 2025

Federal sources on this Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 51-9161. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators. onetcenter.org
  • BLS Employment Projections - 2024-2034 change and openings for this occupation. bls.gov/emp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - demographic and labor-force context for state and metro geography. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) - payroll-tax aggregate context for wage comparisons. irs.gov/statistics