Production Occupations
BLS May 2025 wages Above-baseline growth SOC 51-9162

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

Projected +13% employment change leads this card; pay sits next to Power Distributors and Dispatchers, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers, Model Makers, Metal and Plastic.

Full salary details → About this data

Same-major-group titles next to Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers: Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($107K) , Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators ($60K) , Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers ($63K) , Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K) . Hash-ordered per card so residual SOC siblings do not share an identical peer sentence.

What Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers publish as work

O*NET task statements for SOC 51-9162 - occupation-level descriptions, not every employer's posting. Sibling cards diverge here because the task set is entity-keyed.

  1. 1. Determine the sequence of machine operations, and select the proper cutting tools needed to machine workpieces into the desired shapes
  2. 2. Analyze job orders, drawings, blueprints, specifications, printed circuit board pattern films, and design data to calculate dimensions, t…
  3. 3. Observe machines on trial runs or conduct computer simulations to ensure that programs and machinery will function properly and produce i…
  4. 4. Write programs in the language of a machine's controller and store programs on media, such as punch tapes, magnetic tapes, or disks
  5. 5. Determine reference points, machine cutting paths, or hole locations, and compute angular and linear dimensions, radii, and curvatures
  6. 6. Enter computer commands to store or retrieve parts patterns, graphic displays, or programs that transfer data to other media
  7. 7. Revise programs or tapes to eliminate errors, and retest programs to check that problems have been solved
  8. 8. Modify existing programs to enhance efficiency
  9. 9. Enter coordinates of hole locations into program memories by depressing pedals or buttons of programmers
  10. 10. Sort shop orders into groups to maximize materials utilization and minimize machine setup time
  11. 11. Compare encoded tapes or computer printouts with original part specifications and blueprints to verify accuracy of instructions
  12. 12. Prepare geometric layouts from graphic displays, using computer-assisted drafting software or drafting instruments and graph paper

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers: O*NET ranks Programming first

Importance-ranked O*NET profile for SOC 51-9162 - lead skill Programming at 3.8 ; lead knowledge Production and Processing. Sibling cards diverge here even when peer titles overlap.

Top skills

  1. 1. Programming 3.8
  2. 2. Monitoring 3.5
  3. 3. Mathematics 3.1
  4. 4. Complex Problem Solving 3.1
  5. 5. Operations Monitoring 3.1
  6. 6. Systems Analysis 3.1
  7. 7. Reading Comprehension 3.0
  8. 8. Active Listening 3.0

Knowledge areas

  1. 1. Production and Processing 4.3
  2. 2. Engineering and Technology 4.1
  3. 3. Mathematics 4.0
  4. 4. Design 3.9
  5. 5. Computers and Electronics 3.8
  6. 6. English Language 3.6
Projected employment change 2024-2034
↑ +13%
much faster than average (3.1%)
National median $68,120/yr
$68K
National median
3,100
Annual openings
28,500
Estimated US jobs
Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Highest-pay peer · $107K

Typical Entry and Preparation Assignments

Entry education Postsecondary nondegree award

Top Paying States for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

1. Washington $81,420
2. Vermont $77,980
3. North Dakota $75,990
4. Kansas $76,080
5. Oregon $75,150
6. Massachusetts $81,670
7. Missouri $78,130
8. Connecticut $86,390
9. California $82,090
10. Arizona $74,450

Other Production Occupations titles

  1. 1. Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers $62,750
  2. 2. Model Makers, Metal and Plastic $63,340
  3. 3. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators $60,020
  4. 4. Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic $63,870
  5. 5. Plant and System Operators, All Other $62,470
  6. 6. Power Distributors and Dispatchers $106,730

BLS projects +13% employment change for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers (2024-2034), much faster than average vs the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. Published median pay is $68,120.

BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as typical entry education. These are occupation-level assignments, not universal employer rules. 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: Washington at $81,420. The table records differences without proving causes. Highest-pay peer shown here: Power Distributors and Dispatchers at $106,730. 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 Programmers pay-rank #9 in Production Occupations

Among 105 detailed Production Occupations with a published OEWS median, Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers is pay-rank #9, 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.

Projected change +12.8% puts Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers ahead of most peers. Open the state map or compare it directly against a slower-growing role.

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers salary map

State, metro, and percentile for SOC 51-9162

Washington · top state for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

$81K published median

Vermont · #2 state pay

$78K · behind Washington

Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Highest-pay peer vs Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers · $107K

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Lower-pay peer beside Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers · $60K

Compare Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

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

Growth and outlook next reads

Fastest-Growing Rankings

National projection leaders

Highest-Paying Careers

Where growth meets pay

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Production Occupations titles sit near Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers at the top of the pay table? ▼
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers is pay-rank #9 of 105 detailed Production Occupations with an OEWS median, upper third. Nearest upper-third titles: Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers ($65K), Tool and Die Makers ($64K), Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic ($64K), Model Makers, Metal and Plastic ($63K). Rank is ROW_NUMBER on national median.
What do computer numerically controlled tool programmers do day to day? ▼
O*NET lists published task statements for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers. Leading ones include: Determine the sequence of machine operations, and select the proper cutting tools needed to machine workpieces into the desired shapes; Analyze job orders, drawings, blueprints, specifications, printed circuit board pattern films, and design data to calculate dimensions, t…; Observe machines on trial runs or conduct computer simulations to ensure that programs and machinery will function properly and produce i…; Write programs in the language of a machine's controller and store programs on media, such as punch tapes, magnetic tapes, or disks. These are occupation-level task descriptions, not every employer's job description.
Which O*NET skills rank highest for computer numerically controlled tool programmers? ▼
For SOC 51-9162, O*NET importance scores lead with Programming (3.8), Monitoring (3.5), Mathematics (3.1), Complex Problem Solving (3.1). Knowledge areas emphasize Production and Processing, Engineering and Technology, Mathematics. These are occupation-level profiles, not a hiring checklist for every employer.
What is the OEWS national median for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers? ▼
May 2025 OEWS reports $68,120 as the national median for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers. The published 10th-90th range is $47,530 to $100,320. Beside Power Distributors and Dispatchers ($106,730), this is the occupation-level national figure, not a local offer.
How fast is Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers projected to grow? ▼
BLS Employment Projections put Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers at +13% change for 2024-2034, with about 3,100 annual openings. Versus the all-occupations baseline (3.1%): much faster than average.
What typical entry education does BLS assign to Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers? ▼
BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as the typical-education-needed-for-entry category for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers. These are occupation-level labels, not every employer's hiring rule.
Which three states show the highest OEWS medians for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers? ▼
Washington ($81,420), Vermont ($77,980), North Dakota ($75,990) 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 Programmers card
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS / OES) - national median and percentiles for SOC 51-9162. bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET OnLine - task and skill statements for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers. 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