51 Series · SOC 51-9161

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$50,690
Median / year
+1.4%
2024→2025
$73,890
Top 10% earn
-10.7%
Growth '24–'34
169,450
Estimated US jobs

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators earn a median of $50,690 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $50,690, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $38,140 (10th percentile) to $73,890 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 169,450 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Washington ($107,920).

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
Share: Post LinkedIn

The pay verdict

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators earn a median of $50,690, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 35% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #32 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 10.7% by 2034.

$50,690
Median annual wage
Top 65%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#32 of 105
in Production
1.9×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Washington at $107,920. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators moved from $41,200 in May 2019 to $50,690 in May 2025 (+23.0%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators sits -1.4 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (SOC 51-9161) has a national median of $50,690 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $38,140 to $73,890, and the published mean is $54,320. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 169,450 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 48 state or territory areas and 387 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $49,970 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $50,690 in May 2025, a rise of $720 (+1.4%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -10.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 13,500 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Production Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $107,920, which is +113% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $109,600. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 169,450 jobs Median $50,690/yr

Median Salary

$50,690

per year

Median Hourly

$24.37/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$54,320

average

Employment

169,450

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$50,690 Bottom 35% higher than 35% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$50,690 · 35th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 22 51-series occupations with growth data, Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -10.7% growth and $50,690 median pay. Scatter plot of 22 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Miscellaneous Assemb… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.1% · Median annual wage: $44650First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $74450Welders, Cutters, So… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.2% · Median annual wage: $53750Packaging and Fillin… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $43220Production Workers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.5% · Median annual wage: $40110Electrical, Electron… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $45850Bakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.6% · Median annual wage: $37160Laundry and Dry-Clea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.4% · Median annual wage: $34890Food Batchmakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.9% · Median annual wage: $42290Cutting, Punching, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12.1% · Median annual wage: $46330Computer Numerically… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.7% · Median annual wage: $50690Helpers--Production … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.9% · Median annual wage: $39070Coating, Painting, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.7% · Median annual wage: $48250Molding, Coremaking,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.8% · Median annual wage: $44350Meat, Poultry, and F… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.5% · Median annual wage: $38300Printing Press Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.1% · Median annual wage: $45780Chemical Equipment O… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $58040Butchers and Meat Cu… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $40140Water and Wastewater… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.5% · Median annual wage: $60020Multiple Machine Too… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.5% · Median annual wage: $47180Sewing Machine Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.8% · Median annual wage: $36670Paper Goods Machine … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.3% · Median annual wage: $50270
Among 22 51-series occupations with growth data, Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators sits on the slower-growing side at -10.7% growth and $50,690 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Miscellaneous Assemb…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $44650
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74450
  • Welders, Cutters, So…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $53750
  • Packaging and Fillin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $43220
  • Production Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $40110
  • Electrical, Electron…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $45850
  • Bakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $37160
  • Laundry and Dry-Clea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.4%, Median annual wage $34890
  • Food Batchmakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.9%, Median annual wage $42290
  • Cutting, Punching, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.1%, Median annual wage $46330
  • Computer Numerically…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.7%, Median annual wage $50690
  • Helpers--Production …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.9%, Median annual wage $39070
  • Coating, Painting, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $48250
  • Molding, Coremaking,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.8%, Median annual wage $44350
  • Meat, Poultry, and F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $38300
  • Printing Press Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.1%, Median annual wage $45780
  • Chemical Equipment O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58040
  • Butchers and Meat Cu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $40140
  • Water and Wastewater…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $60020
  • Multiple Machine Too…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.5%, Median annual wage $47180
  • Sewing Machine Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $36670
  • Paper Goods Machine …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.3%, Median annual wage $50270

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-10.7%

Declining

Annual Openings

13,500

per year (projected)

Employment Change

-19,000

177,100 (2024) → 158,100 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Production Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

3.5/100K

Injury Rate

3.2/100

Danger Index

14.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operations Monitoring 4.1
Operation and Control 4.1
Critical Thinking 3.6
Monitoring 3.6
Quality Control Analysis 3.4
Active Listening 3.1
Complex Problem Solving 3.1
Troubleshooting 3.1
Speaking 3.0
Equipment Maintenance 3.0

Knowledge Areas

Mathematics 4.2
Production and Processing 4.0
Mechanical 3.8
English Language 3.3
Engineering and Technology 3.3
Education and Training 3.1
Design 3.1
Administration and Management 3.0
Computers and Electronics 3.0
Physics 2.6

Key Tasks

  • Measure dimensions of finished workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments, templates, and fixtures.
  • 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 instruments.
  • Review program specifications or blueprints to determine and set machine operations and sequencing, finished workpiece dimensions, or numerical control sequences.
  • Stop machines to remove finished workpieces or to change tooling, setup, or workpiece placement, according to required machining sequences.
  • Listen to machines during operation to detect sounds such as those made by dull cutting tools or excessive vibration, and adjust machines to compensate for problems.
  • Implement changes to machine programs, and enter new specifications, using computers.
  • Calculate machine speed and feed ratios and the size and position of cuts.
  • Transfer commands from servers to computer numerical control (CNC) modules, using computer network links.
  • Remove and replace dull cutting tools.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$38,140
25th$44,930
Median$50,690
75th$61,760
90th$73,890

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$18.34
25th$21.60
Median$24.37
75th$29.69
90th$35.53

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay history, 2019–2025

Published national median across 7 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000 2019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2019: $41,200National median - 2020: $42,260National median - 2021: $46,640National median - 2022: $46,760National median - 2023: $48,550National median - 2024: $49,970National median - 2025: $50,690$50,690
National median annual wage for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators, May 2019 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2019 $41,200
2020 $42,260
2021 $46,640
2022 $46,760
2023 $48,550
2024 $49,970
2025 $50,690

2019 median

$41,200

2025 median

$50,690

2019–2025 change

+$9,490 (+23%)

Avg/year

+3.5%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2019 $41,200 First banked release 151,700
May 2020 $42,260 +2.6% 149,120
May 2021 $46,640 +10.4% 157,840
May 2022 $46,760 +0.3% 179,360
May 2023 $48,550 +3.8% 187,670
May 2024 $49,970 +2.9% 176,950
May 2025 $50,690 +1.4% 169,450

Across the 7 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $41,200 in May 2019 to $50,690 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.5% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 151,700 in May 2019 to 169,450 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in.

Salary by State

View all 48 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Washington $107,920 +113% above national
2 Massachusetts $61,630 +22% above national
3 North Dakota $60,250 +19% above national
4 Connecticut $59,840 +18% above national
5 New Hampshire $59,730 +18% above national
6 Maine $59,660 +18% above national
7 Vermont $57,500 +13% above national
8 Rhode Island $57,390 +13% above national
9 Minnesota $56,780 +12% above national
10 Oregon $56,670 +12% above national
11 California $56,510 +11% above national
12 Colorado $55,270 +9% above national
13 Pennsylvania $54,590 +8% above national
14 Wyoming $54,170 +7% above national
15 New Jersey $54,100 +7% above national
16 Idaho $53,340 +5% above national
17 New York $53,340 +5% above national
18 Wisconsin $52,690 +4% above national
19 Alabama $52,380 +3% above national
20 Iowa $52,300 +3% above national
21 Montana $51,880 +2% above national
22 South Carolina $51,800 +2% above national
23 Missouri $51,000 +1% above national
24 South Dakota $50,750 same as national
25 North Carolina $50,440 same as national
26 Arkansas $50,280 1% below national
27 Delaware $50,010 1% below national
28 Tennessee $49,980 1% below national
29 Louisiana $49,800 2% below national
30 West Virginia $49,630 2% below national
31 Virginia $49,590 2% below national
32 Nebraska $49,360 3% below national
33 Kentucky $49,180 3% below national
34 Ohio $49,160 3% below national
35 Arizona $48,950 3% below national
36 Indiana $48,590 4% below national
37 Texas $48,480 4% below national
38 Illinois $48,420 4% below national
39 Kansas $48,400 5% below national
40 Oklahoma $47,760 6% below national
41 Georgia $47,630 6% below national
42 Michigan $47,250 7% below national
43 Maryland $46,870 8% below national
44 Nevada $46,670 8% below national
45 Florida $46,170 9% below national
46 Utah $45,140 11% below national
47 New Mexico $44,970 11% below national
48 Mississippi $39,520 22% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 286 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $109,600 +116% above national
2 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $64,180 +27% above national
3 Albany, OR $64,170 +27% above national
4 Fargo, ND-MN $63,610 +25% above national
5 Morristown, TN $62,760 +24% above national
6 Lewiston, ID-WA $62,000 +22% above national
7 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH $61,830 +22% above national
8 Huntsville, AL $61,790 +22% above national
9 Manchester-Nashua, NH $61,650 +22% above national
10 Sandusky, OH $61,360 +21% above national
11 Mobile, AL $61,340 +21% above national
12 St. Joseph, MO-KS $60,960 +20% above national
13 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $60,600 +20% above national
14 Elmira, NY $60,260 +19% above national
15 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $60,210 +19% above national
16 Springfield, MA $60,200 +19% above national
17 Glens Falls, NY $60,150 +19% above national
18 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $60,100 +19% above national
19 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $59,930 +18% above national
20 Vallejo, CA $59,740 +18% above national
21 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $59,620 +18% above national
22 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $59,600 +18% above national
23 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $59,440 +17% above national
24 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $59,360 +17% above national
25 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $59,280 +17% above national
26 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $59,270 +17% above national
27 Birmingham, AL $59,080 +17% above national
28 Amarillo, TX $59,070 +17% above national
29 Boulder, CO $58,980 +16% above national
30 Lancaster, PA $58,970 +16% above national
31 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $58,900 +16% above national
32 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $58,870 +16% above national
33 Stockton-Lodi, CA $58,850 +16% above national
34 Pittsburgh, PA $58,770 +16% above national
35 Worcester, MA $58,740 +16% above national
36 Eau Claire, WI $58,660 +16% above national
37 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $58,640 +16% above national
38 Green Bay, WI $58,610 +16% above national
39 Savannah, GA $58,570 +16% above national
40 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $58,570 +16% above national
41 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $58,540 +15% above national
42 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $58,290 +15% above national
43 Decatur, AL $58,270 +15% above national
44 Kingston, NY $58,070 +15% above national
45 Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC $58,050 +15% above national
46 St. Cloud, MN $57,980 +14% above national
47 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $57,850 +14% above national
48 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $57,790 +14% above national
49 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $57,780 +14% above national
50 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $57,670 +14% above national
51 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $57,520 +13% above national
52 Altoona, PA $57,450 +13% above national
53 Rochester, MN $57,330 +13% above national
54 Wausau, WI $57,330 +13% above national
55 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $57,310 +13% above national
56 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA $57,300 +13% above national
57 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN $57,280 +13% above national
58 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $57,200 +13% above national
59 Cedar Rapids, IA $57,170 +13% above national
60 Grand Island, NE $57,040 +13% above national
61 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $57,020 +12% above national
62 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $56,910 +12% above national
63 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $56,770 +12% above national
64 Decatur, IL $56,690 +12% above national
65 Visalia, CA $56,670 +12% above national
66 Fort Smith, AR-OK $56,520 +12% above national
67 Bowling Green, KY $56,390 +11% above national
68 Portland-South Portland, ME $55,920 +10% above national
69 New Haven, CT $55,520 +10% above national
70 Pueblo, CO $55,470 +9% above national
71 Anniston-Oxford, AL $55,440 +9% above national
72 Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI $55,390 +9% above national
73 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $54,980 +8% above national
74 Lynchburg, VA $54,920 +8% above national
75 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $54,910 +8% above national
76 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $54,790 +8% above national
77 Appleton, WI $54,690 +8% above national
78 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN $54,390 +7% above national
79 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $54,260 +7% above national
80 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $54,180 +7% above national
81 Billings, MT $54,070 +7% above national
82 Missoula, MT $54,010 +7% above national
83 Salem, OR $53,920 +6% above national
84 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $53,730 +6% above national
85 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $53,680 +6% above national
86 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $53,660 +6% above national
87 Bend, OR $53,320 +5% above national
88 Jonesboro, AR $53,310 +5% above national
89 Bloomington, IL $53,300 +5% above national
90 Winston-Salem, NC $53,110 +5% above national
91 Akron, OH $53,100 +5% above national
92 Madison, WI $52,980 +5% above national
93 Spartanburg, SC $52,810 +4% above national
94 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $52,750 +4% above national
95 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $52,560 +4% above national
96 Greeley, CO $52,430 +3% above national
97 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $52,360 +3% above national
98 St. Louis, MO-IL $52,310 +3% above national
99 Duluth, MN-WI $52,300 +3% above national
100 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $52,240 +3% above national
101 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $52,220 +3% above national
102 Rapid City, SD $52,190 +3% above national
103 Lexington-Fayette, KY $52,150 +3% above national
104 Reading, PA $52,150 +3% above national
105 Dubuque, IA $52,110 +3% above national
106 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $52,040 +3% above national
107 Chico, CA $51,960 +3% above national
108 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $51,890 +2% above national
109 Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL $51,800 +2% above national
110 York-Hanover, PA $51,770 +2% above national
111 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $51,600 +2% above national
112 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $51,590 +2% above national
113 Colorado Springs, CO $51,540 +2% above national
114 Springfield, MO $51,540 +2% above national
115 Columbia, SC $51,530 +2% above national
116 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $51,430 +1% above national
117 Binghamton, NY $51,330 +1% above national
118 Grand Forks, ND-MN $51,320 +1% above national
119 Lawrence, KS $51,280 +1% above national
120 Athens-Clarke County, GA $51,160 +1% above national
121 Reno, NV $51,130 +1% above national
122 Kansas City, MO-KS $51,010 +1% above national
123 Bozeman, MT $51,000 +1% above national
124 Grand Junction, CO $50,980 +1% above national
125 Raleigh-Cary, NC $50,750 same as national
126 Chambersburg, PA $50,730 same as national
127 Richmond, VA $50,700 same as national
128 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $50,640 same as national
129 Sheboygan, WI $50,460 same as national
130 Jackson, TN $50,450 same as national
131 Asheville, NC $50,440 same as national
132 Redding, CA $50,440 same as national
133 Peoria, IL $50,420 1% below national
134 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $50,400 1% below national
135 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $50,400 1% below national
136 Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $50,400 1% below national
137 Tuscaloosa, AL $50,300 1% below national
138 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $50,280 1% below national
139 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $50,260 1% below national
140 Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $50,160 1% below national
141 Columbus, OH $50,150 1% below national
142 Tulsa, OK $50,110 1% below national
143 Corvallis, OR $50,060 1% below national
144 Roanoke, VA $50,010 1% below national
145 Coeur d'Alene, ID $50,000 1% below national
146 Lafayette, LA $49,930 1% below national
147 Kankakee, IL $49,860 2% below national
148 Lincoln, NE $49,790 2% below national
149 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $49,600 2% below national
150 Youngstown-Warren, OH $49,480 2% below national
151 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $49,470 2% below national
152 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $49,460 2% below national
153 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $49,450 2% below national
154 Boise City, ID $49,420 3% below national
155 Odessa, TX $49,420 3% below national
156 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $49,400 3% below national
157 Kenosha, WI $49,380 3% below national
158 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $49,360 3% below national
159 Fresno, CA $49,330 3% below national
160 Mankato, MN $49,330 3% below national
161 Tucson, AZ $49,310 3% below national
162 Rochester, NY $49,230 3% below national
163 Merced, CA $49,200 3% below national
164 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $49,110 3% below national
165 Baton Rouge, LA $49,100 3% below national
166 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $49,090 3% below national
167 Knoxville, TN $49,040 3% below national
168 Modesto, CA $49,020 3% below national
169 Syracuse, NY $48,940 3% below national
170 Fond du Lac, WI $48,890 4% below national
171 Lebanon, PA $48,760 4% below national
172 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $48,690 4% below national
173 Longview, TX $48,680 4% below national
174 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,680 4% below national
175 Cleveland, OH $48,670 4% below national
176 Omaha, NE-IA $48,670 4% below national
177 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $48,660 4% below national
178 Clarksville, TN-KY $48,660 4% below national
179 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $48,620 4% below national
180 Columbus, IN $48,590 4% below national
181 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $48,560 4% below national
182 Utica-Rome, NY $48,560 4% below national
183 Oklahoma City, OK $48,540 4% below national
184 Carson City, NV $48,510 4% below national
185 Wichita, KS $48,480 4% below national
186 Fort Wayne, IN $48,430 4% below national
187 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $48,360 5% below national
188 Champaign-Urbana, IL $48,320 5% below national
189 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $48,270 5% below national
190 Tyler, TX $48,270 5% below national
191 Eugene-Springfield, OR $48,230 5% below national
192 Monroe, MI $48,210 5% below national
193 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $48,150 5% below national
194 Victoria, TX $48,120 5% below national
195 Cleveland, TN $48,080 5% below national
196 Janesville-Beloit, WI $48,040 5% below national
197 Springfield, OH $48,010 5% below national
198 College Station-Bryan, TX $47,990 5% below national
199 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $47,990 5% below national
200 Chattanooga, TN-GA $47,940 5% below national
201 Greensboro-High Point, NC $47,930 5% below national
202 Gettysburg, PA $47,920 5% below national
203 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $47,900 6% below national
204 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $47,870 6% below national
205 Medford, OR $47,790 6% below national
206 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $47,780 6% below national
207 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $47,670 6% below national
208 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $47,510 6% below national
209 Columbus, GA-AL $47,460 6% below national
210 Ames, IA $47,330 7% below national
211 San Angelo, TX $47,220 7% below national
212 Erie, PA $47,210 7% below national
213 Sherman-Denison, TX $47,200 7% below national
214 Toledo, OH $47,190 7% below national
215 Canton-Massillon, OH $47,180 7% below national
216 Logan, UT-ID $47,110 7% below national
217 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $47,100 7% below national
218 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $47,100 7% below national
219 Wichita Falls, TX $47,090 7% below national
220 Albuquerque, NM $47,060 7% below national
221 Port St. Lucie, FL $47,050 7% below national
222 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $47,040 7% below national
223 Burlington, NC $46,940 7% below national
224 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $46,920 7% below national
225 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $46,900 7% below national
226 Gainesville, FL $46,900 7% below national
227 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $46,880 8% below national
228 Jacksonville, FL $46,860 8% below national
229 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $46,840 8% below national
230 Rockford, IL $46,780 8% below national
231 Bloomington, IN $46,730 8% below national
232 Jackson, MS $46,710 8% below national
233 Florence, SC $46,650 8% below national
234 Ann Arbor, MI $46,640 8% below national
235 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $46,630 8% below national
236 Traverse City, MI $46,570 8% below national
237 Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $46,550 8% below national
238 Gainesville, GA $46,510 8% below national
239 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $46,490 8% below national
240 St. George, UT $46,470 8% below national
241 Williamsport, PA $46,380 9% below national
242 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $46,250 9% below national
243 Lima, OH $46,240 9% below national
244 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $45,930 9% below national
245 Elizabethtown, KY $45,900 9% below national
246 Jackson, MI $45,640 10% below national
247 Lubbock, TX $45,580 10% below national
248 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $45,570 10% below national
249 Johnson City, TN $45,480 10% below national
250 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $45,220 11% below national
251 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $45,110 11% below national
252 State College, PA $45,100 11% below national
253 Evansville, IN $45,040 11% below national
254 Waco, TX $44,960 11% below national
255 Killeen-Temple, TX $44,900 11% below national
256 Harrisonburg, VA $44,890 11% below national
257 Grants Pass, OR $44,880 11% below national
258 Abilene, TX $44,870 11% below national
259 Terre Haute, IN $44,820 12% below national
260 Ocala, FL $44,520 12% below national
261 Ogden, UT $44,520 12% below national
262 Flint, MI $44,340 13% below national
263 Dothan, AL $44,320 13% below national
264 Kokomo, IN $44,320 13% below national
265 Naples-Marco Island, FL $43,950 13% below national
266 Niles, MI $43,680 14% below national
267 Joplin, MO-KS $43,520 14% below national
268 Muncie, IN $43,140 15% below national
269 Montgomery, AL $43,060 15% below national
270 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $42,950 15% below national
271 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $42,910 15% below national
272 Battle Creek, MI $42,900 15% below national
273 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $42,900 15% below national
274 Bay City, MI $41,990 17% below national
275 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $41,980 17% below national
276 Macon-Bibb County, GA $41,740 18% below national
277 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $41,330 18% below national
278 El Paso, TX $40,040 21% below national
279 Gadsden, AL $39,730 22% below national
280 Manhattan, KS $39,660 22% below national
281 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $39,400 22% below national
282 Dalton, GA $39,030 23% below national
283 Goldsboro, NC $38,980 23% below national
284 Rome, GA $38,910 23% below national
285 Mansfield, OH $38,770 24% below national
286 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $37,220 27% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 51 (Production Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 104 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Production Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($50,690 here) and reported employment (169,450 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators make?
The median annual salary for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators is $50,690 ($24.37/hour). The salary range spans from $38,140 at the 10th percentile to $73,890 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $50,690, Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay is higher than 35% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators the most?
Washington pays the highest median salary for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators at $107,920/year, which is +113% above the national median.
What education do Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators need?
BLS assigns Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in this release. WageDex shows the Production Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators a good career?
Employment for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators is projected to decline 10.7% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 13,500 openings are projected each year.
How does Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay vary by state?
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $107,920/year, while Mississippi pays the least at $39,520/year. BLS data covers 48 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $109,600/year. BLS reports a median for 286 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $61,760/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $107,920/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.