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
- $73,890
- Top 10% earn
- -10.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 169,450
- US workers
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 US workers. Washington pays the most ($107,920), since pay varies by state and metro area.
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 2033.
- $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.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators (SOC 51-9161) pays a national median of $50,690 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $38,140 at the 10th percentile to $73,890 at the 90th, with a mean of $54,320 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 169,450 Americans work in this occupation across 48 reporting states and 387 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -10.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 13,500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
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 top metro is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $109,600 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
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
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.
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.
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)
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 → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
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
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$38,140
25th Percentile
$44,930
Median
$50,690
75th Percentile
$61,760
90th Percentile
$73,890
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
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
Highest Paying Metros
View all 387 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 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $63,090 | +24% above national |
| 6 | Morristown, TN | $62,760 | +24% above national |
| 7 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $62,000 | +22% above national |
| 8 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $61,830 | +22% above national |
| 9 | Huntsville, AL | $61,790 | +22% above national |
| 10 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $61,650 | +22% above national |
| 11 | Sandusky, OH | $61,360 | +21% above national |
| 12 | Mobile, AL | $61,340 | +21% above national |
| 13 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $61,250 | +21% above national |
| 14 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $60,960 | +20% above national |
| 15 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $60,600 | +20% above national |
| 16 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $60,460 | +19% above national |
| 17 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $60,430 | +19% above national |
| 18 | Elmira, NY | $60,260 | +19% above national |
| 19 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $60,210 | +19% above national |
| 20 | Springfield, MA | $60,200 | +19% above national |
| 21 | Glens Falls, NY | $60,150 | +19% above national |
| 22 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $60,100 | +19% above national |
| 23 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $59,930 | +18% above national |
| 24 | Vallejo, CA | $59,740 | +18% above national |
| 25 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $59,730 | +18% above national |
| 26 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $59,620 | +18% above national |
| 27 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $59,600 | +18% above national |
| 28 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $59,560 | +17% above national |
| 29 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $59,440 | +17% above national |
| 30 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,360 | +17% above national |
| 31 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $59,280 | +17% above national |
| 32 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $59,270 | +17% above national |
| 33 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $59,200 | +17% above national |
| 34 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $59,100 | +17% above national |
| 35 | Birmingham, AL | $59,080 | +17% above national |
| 36 | Amarillo, TX | $59,070 | +17% above national |
| 37 | Boulder, CO | $58,980 | +16% above national |
| 38 | Lancaster, PA | $58,970 | +16% above national |
| 39 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $58,900 | +16% above national |
| 40 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $58,870 | +16% above national |
| 41 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $58,850 | +16% above national |
| 42 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58,770 | +16% above national |
| 43 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $58,760 | +16% above national |
| 44 | Worcester, MA | $58,740 | +16% above national |
| 45 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $58,670 | +16% above national |
| 46 | Eau Claire, WI | $58,660 | +16% above national |
| 47 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $58,640 | +16% above national |
| 48 | Green Bay, WI | $58,610 | +16% above national |
| 49 | Savannah, GA | $58,570 | +16% above national |
| 50 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $58,570 | +16% above national |
| 51 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $58,540 | +15% above national |
| 52 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $58,540 | +15% above national |
| 53 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $58,400 | +15% above national |
| 54 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $58,290 | +15% above national |
| 55 | Decatur, AL | $58,270 | +15% above national |
| 56 | Kingston, NY | $58,070 | +15% above national |
| 57 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $58,050 | +15% above national |
| 58 | St. Cloud, MN | $57,980 | +14% above national |
| 59 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $57,940 | +14% above national |
| 60 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $57,850 | +14% above national |
| 61 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $57,790 | +14% above national |
| 62 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $57,780 | +14% above national |
| 63 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $57,670 | +14% above national |
| 64 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $57,520 | +13% above national |
| 65 | Altoona, PA | $57,450 | +13% above national |
| 66 | Rochester, MN | $57,330 | +13% above national |
| 67 | Wausau, WI | $57,330 | +13% above national |
| 68 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $57,310 | +13% above national |
| 69 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $57,300 | +13% above national |
| 70 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $57,280 | +13% above national |
| 71 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $57,200 | +13% above national |
| 72 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $57,170 | +13% above national |
| 73 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $57,130 | +13% above national |
| 74 | Grand Island, NE | $57,040 | +13% above national |
| 75 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $57,020 | +12% above national |
| 76 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $56,910 | +12% above national |
| 77 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $56,770 | +12% above national |
| 78 | Decatur, IL | $56,690 | +12% above national |
| 79 | Visalia, CA | $56,670 | +12% above national |
| 80 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $56,520 | +12% above national |
| 81 | Bowling Green, KY | $56,390 | +11% above national |
| 82 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $55,990 | +10% above national |
| 83 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $55,920 | +10% above national |
| 84 | New Haven, CT | $55,520 | +10% above national |
| 85 | Pueblo, CO | $55,470 | +9% above national |
| 86 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $55,440 | +9% above national |
| 87 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $55,390 | +9% above national |
| 88 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $55,390 | +9% above national |
| 89 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $54,980 | +8% above national |
| 90 | Lynchburg, VA | $54,920 | +8% above national |
| 91 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $54,910 | +8% above national |
| 92 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $54,860 | +8% above national |
| 93 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $54,790 | +8% above national |
| 94 | Appleton, WI | $54,690 | +8% above national |
| 95 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $54,520 | +8% above national |
| 96 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $54,390 | +7% above national |
| 97 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $54,260 | +7% above national |
| 98 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $54,180 | +7% above national |
| 99 | Billings, MT | $54,070 | +7% above national |
| 100 | Missoula, MT | $54,010 | +7% above national |
| 101 | Salem, OR | $53,920 | +6% above national |
| 102 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $53,730 | +6% above national |
| 103 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $53,680 | +6% above national |
| 104 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $53,660 | +6% above national |
| 105 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $53,480 | +6% above national |
| 106 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $53,350 | +5% above national |
| 107 | Bend, OR | $53,320 | +5% above national |
| 108 | Jonesboro, AR | $53,310 | +5% above national |
| 109 | Bloomington, IL | $53,300 | +5% above national |
| 110 | Winston-Salem, NC | $53,110 | +5% above national |
| 111 | Akron, OH | $53,100 | +5% above national |
| 112 | Madison, WI | $52,980 | +5% above national |
| 113 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $52,820 | +4% above national |
| 114 | Spartanburg, SC | $52,810 | +4% above national |
| 115 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $52,750 | +4% above national |
| 116 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $52,680 | +4% above national |
| 117 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $52,560 | +4% above national |
| 118 | Greeley, CO | $52,430 | +3% above national |
| 119 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $52,360 | +3% above national |
| 120 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $52,310 | +3% above national |
| 121 | Duluth, MN-WI | $52,300 | +3% above national |
| 122 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $52,240 | +3% above national |
| 123 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $52,220 | +3% above national |
| 124 | Rapid City, SD | $52,190 | +3% above national |
| 125 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $52,150 | +3% above national |
| 126 | Reading, PA | $52,150 | +3% above national |
| 127 | Dubuque, IA | $52,110 | +3% above national |
| 128 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $52,040 | +3% above national |
| 129 | Chico, CA | $51,960 | +3% above national |
| 130 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $51,890 | +2% above national |
| 131 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $51,800 | +2% above national |
| 132 | York-Hanover, PA | $51,770 | +2% above national |
| 133 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $51,600 | +2% above national |
| 134 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $51,590 | +2% above national |
| 135 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $51,590 | +2% above national |
| 136 | Colorado Springs, CO | $51,540 | +2% above national |
| 137 | Springfield, MO | $51,540 | +2% above national |
| 138 | Columbia, SC | $51,530 | +2% above national |
| 139 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $51,430 | +1% above national |
| 140 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $51,340 | +1% above national |
| 141 | Binghamton, NY | $51,330 | +1% above national |
| 142 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $51,320 | +1% above national |
| 143 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $51,320 | +1% above national |
| 144 | Lawrence, KS | $51,280 | +1% above national |
| 145 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $51,280 | +1% above national |
| 146 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $51,280 | +1% above national |
| 147 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $51,270 | +1% above national |
| 148 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $51,160 | +1% above national |
| 149 | Reno, NV | $51,130 | +1% above national |
| 150 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $51,110 | +1% above national |
| 151 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $51,100 | +1% above national |
| 152 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $51,010 | +1% above national |
| 153 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $51,010 | +1% above national |
| 154 | Bozeman, MT | $51,000 | +1% above national |
| 155 | Grand Junction, CO | $50,980 | +1% above national |
| 156 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $50,970 | +1% above national |
| 157 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $50,930 | same as national |
| 158 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $50,840 | same as national |
| 159 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $50,750 | same as national |
| 160 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $50,740 | same as national |
| 161 | Chambersburg, PA | $50,730 | same as national |
| 162 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $50,710 | same as national |
| 163 | Richmond, VA | $50,700 | same as national |
| 164 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $50,640 | same as national |
| 165 | Sheboygan, WI | $50,460 | same as national |
| 166 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $50,460 | same as national |
| 167 | Jackson, TN | $50,450 | same as national |
| 168 | Asheville, NC | $50,440 | same as national |
| 169 | Redding, CA | $50,440 | same as national |
| 170 | Peoria, IL | $50,420 | 1% below national |
| 171 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $50,400 | 1% below national |
| 172 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $50,400 | 1% below national |
| 173 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $50,400 | 1% below national |
| 174 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $50,330 | 1% below national |
| 175 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $50,300 | 1% below national |
| 176 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,280 | 1% below national |
| 177 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $50,280 | 1% below national |
| 178 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $50,260 | 1% below national |
| 179 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $50,160 | 1% below national |
| 180 | Columbus, OH | $50,150 | 1% below national |
| 181 | Tulsa, OK | $50,110 | 1% below national |
| 182 | Corvallis, OR | $50,060 | 1% below national |
| 183 | Roanoke, VA | $50,010 | 1% below national |
| 184 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $50,000 | 1% below national |
| 185 | Lafayette, LA | $49,930 | 1% below national |
| 186 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $49,930 | 1% below national |
| 187 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $49,920 | 2% below national |
| 188 | Kankakee, IL | $49,860 | 2% below national |
| 189 | Lincoln, NE | $49,790 | 2% below national |
| 190 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $49,760 | 2% below national |
| 191 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $49,740 | 2% below national |
| 192 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $49,600 | 2% below national |
| 193 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $49,480 | 2% below national |
| 194 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $49,470 | 2% below national |
| 195 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $49,460 | 2% below national |
| 196 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $49,450 | 2% below national |
| 197 | Boise City, ID | $49,420 | 3% below national |
| 198 | Odessa, TX | $49,420 | 3% below national |
| 199 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $49,400 | 3% below national |
| 200 | Kenosha, WI | $49,380 | 3% below national |
| 201 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $49,360 | 3% below national |
| 202 | Fresno, CA | $49,330 | 3% below national |
| 203 | Mankato, MN | $49,330 | 3% below national |
| 204 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $49,330 | 3% below national |
| 205 | Tucson, AZ | $49,310 | 3% below national |
| 206 | Rochester, NY | $49,230 | 3% below national |
| 207 | Merced, CA | $49,200 | 3% below national |
| 208 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $49,150 | 3% below national |
| 209 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $49,110 | 3% below national |
| 210 | Baton Rouge, LA | $49,100 | 3% below national |
| 211 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $49,090 | 3% below national |
| 212 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $49,090 | 3% below national |
| 213 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $49,080 | 3% below national |
| 214 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $49,080 | 3% below national |
| 215 | Knoxville, TN | $49,040 | 3% below national |
| 216 | Modesto, CA | $49,020 | 3% below national |
| 217 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $48,970 | 3% below national |
| 218 | Syracuse, NY | $48,940 | 3% below national |
| 219 | Fond du Lac, WI | $48,890 | 4% below national |
| 220 | Lebanon, PA | $48,760 | 4% below national |
| 221 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,690 | 4% below national |
| 222 | Longview, TX | $48,680 | 4% below national |
| 223 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,680 | 4% below national |
| 224 | Cleveland, OH | $48,670 | 4% below national |
| 225 | Omaha, NE-IA | $48,670 | 4% below national |
| 226 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $48,660 | 4% below national |
| 227 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $48,660 | 4% below national |
| 228 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $48,620 | 4% below national |
| 229 | Columbus, IN | $48,590 | 4% below national |
| 230 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $48,560 | 4% below national |
| 231 | Utica-Rome, NY | $48,560 | 4% below national |
| 232 | Oklahoma City, OK | $48,540 | 4% below national |
| 233 | Carson City, NV | $48,510 | 4% below national |
| 234 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,510 | 4% below national |
| 235 | Wichita, KS | $48,480 | 4% below national |
| 236 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $48,470 | 4% below national |
| 237 | Fort Wayne, IN | $48,430 | 4% below national |
| 238 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $48,360 | 5% below national |
| 239 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $48,350 | 5% below national |
| 240 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $48,340 | 5% below national |
| 241 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $48,320 | 5% below national |
| 242 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $48,320 | 5% below national |
| 243 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $48,270 | 5% below national |
| 244 | Tyler, TX | $48,270 | 5% below national |
| 245 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $48,230 | 5% below national |
| 246 | Monroe, MI | $48,210 | 5% below national |
| 247 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $48,200 | 5% below national |
| 248 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $48,150 | 5% below national |
| 249 | Victoria, TX | $48,120 | 5% below national |
| 250 | Cleveland, TN | $48,080 | 5% below national |
| 251 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $48,060 | 5% below national |
| 252 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $48,050 | 5% below national |
| 253 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $48,040 | 5% below national |
| 254 | Springfield, OH | $48,010 | 5% below national |
| 255 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,000 | 5% below national |
| 256 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $47,990 | 5% below national |
| 257 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,990 | 5% below national |
| 258 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $47,980 | 5% below national |
| 259 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $47,960 | 5% below national |
| 260 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $47,940 | 5% below national |
| 261 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $47,930 | 5% below national |
| 262 | Gettysburg, PA | $47,920 | 5% below national |
| 263 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $47,900 | 6% below national |
| 264 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,880 | 6% below national |
| 265 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $47,870 | 6% below national |
| 266 | Medford, OR | $47,790 | 6% below national |
| 267 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $47,780 | 6% below national |
| 268 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $47,670 | 6% below national |
| 269 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $47,640 | 6% below national |
| 270 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $47,630 | 6% below national |
| 271 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $47,590 | 6% below national |
| 272 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $47,510 | 6% below national |
| 273 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $47,470 | 6% below national |
| 274 | Columbus, GA-AL | $47,460 | 6% below national |
| 275 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $47,400 | 6% below national |
| 276 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,400 | 6% below national |
| 277 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $47,380 | 7% below national |
| 278 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $47,380 | 7% below national |
| 279 | Ames, IA | $47,330 | 7% below national |
| 280 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $47,270 | 7% below national |
| 281 | San Angelo, TX | $47,220 | 7% below national |
| 282 | Erie, PA | $47,210 | 7% below national |
| 283 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $47,200 | 7% below national |
| 284 | Toledo, OH | $47,190 | 7% below national |
| 285 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $47,190 | 7% below national |
| 286 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $47,180 | 7% below national |
| 287 | Logan, UT-ID | $47,110 | 7% below national |
| 288 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $47,110 | 7% below national |
| 289 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $47,100 | 7% below national |
| 290 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $47,100 | 7% below national |
| 291 | Wichita Falls, TX | $47,090 | 7% below national |
| 292 | Albuquerque, NM | $47,060 | 7% below national |
| 293 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $47,050 | 7% below national |
| 294 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $47,040 | 7% below national |
| 295 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $47,020 | 7% below national |
| 296 | Burlington, NC | $46,940 | 7% below national |
| 297 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $46,920 | 7% below national |
| 298 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $46,900 | 7% below national |
| 299 | Gainesville, FL | $46,900 | 7% below national |
| 300 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $46,880 | 8% below national |
| 301 | Jacksonville, FL | $46,860 | 8% below national |
| 302 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $46,840 | 8% below national |
| 303 | Rockford, IL | $46,780 | 8% below national |
| 304 | Bloomington, IN | $46,730 | 8% below national |
| 305 | Jackson, MS | $46,710 | 8% below national |
| 306 | Florence, SC | $46,650 | 8% below national |
| 307 | Ann Arbor, MI | $46,640 | 8% below national |
| 308 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $46,630 | 8% below national |
| 309 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $46,580 | 8% below national |
| 310 | Traverse City, MI | $46,570 | 8% below national |
| 311 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $46,550 | 8% below national |
| 312 | Gainesville, GA | $46,510 | 8% below national |
| 313 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $46,500 | 8% below national |
| 314 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $46,490 | 8% below national |
| 315 | St. George, UT | $46,470 | 8% below national |
| 316 | Williamsport, PA | $46,380 | 9% below national |
| 317 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $46,380 | 9% below national |
| 318 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,330 | 9% below national |
| 319 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $46,250 | 9% below national |
| 320 | Lima, OH | $46,240 | 9% below national |
| 321 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $46,170 | 9% below national |
| 322 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $45,930 | 9% below national |
| 323 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $45,930 | 9% below national |
| 324 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,920 | 9% below national |
| 325 | Elizabethtown, KY | $45,900 | 9% below national |
| 326 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $45,880 | 9% below national |
| 327 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $45,850 | 10% below national |
| 328 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $45,740 | 10% below national |
| 329 | Jackson, MI | $45,640 | 10% below national |
| 330 | Lubbock, TX | $45,580 | 10% below national |
| 331 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $45,570 | 10% below national |
| 332 | Johnson City, TN | $45,480 | 10% below national |
| 333 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $45,480 | 10% below national |
| 334 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $45,220 | 11% below national |
| 335 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $45,110 | 11% below national |
| 336 | State College, PA | $45,100 | 11% below national |
| 337 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $45,070 | 11% below national |
| 338 | Evansville, IN | $45,040 | 11% below national |
| 339 | Waco, TX | $44,960 | 11% below national |
| 340 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $44,900 | 11% below national |
| 341 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $44,900 | 11% below national |
| 342 | Harrisonburg, VA | $44,890 | 11% below national |
| 343 | Grants Pass, OR | $44,880 | 11% below national |
| 344 | Abilene, TX | $44,870 | 11% below national |
| 345 | Terre Haute, IN | $44,820 | 12% below national |
| 346 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $44,730 | 12% below national |
| 347 | Ocala, FL | $44,520 | 12% below national |
| 348 | Ogden, UT | $44,520 | 12% below national |
| 349 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $44,490 | 12% below national |
| 350 | Flint, MI | $44,340 | 13% below national |
| 351 | Dothan, AL | $44,320 | 13% below national |
| 352 | Kokomo, IN | $44,320 | 13% below national |
| 353 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $44,170 | 13% below national |
| 354 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $44,080 | 13% below national |
| 355 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $43,980 | 13% below national |
| 356 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $43,950 | 13% below national |
| 357 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,930 | 13% below national |
| 358 | Niles, MI | $43,680 | 14% below national |
| 359 | Joplin, MO-KS | $43,520 | 14% below national |
| 360 | Muncie, IN | $43,140 | 15% below national |
| 361 | Montgomery, AL | $43,060 | 15% below national |
| 362 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $42,950 | 15% below national |
| 363 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $42,910 | 15% below national |
| 364 | Battle Creek, MI | $42,900 | 15% below national |
| 365 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $42,900 | 15% below national |
| 366 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $42,620 | 16% below national |
| 367 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $42,390 | 16% below national |
| 368 | Bay City, MI | $41,990 | 17% below national |
| 369 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $41,980 | 17% below national |
| 370 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $41,770 | 18% below national |
| 371 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $41,740 | 18% below national |
| 372 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $41,500 | 18% below national |
| 373 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $41,330 | 18% below national |
| 374 | El Paso, TX | $40,040 | 21% below national |
| 375 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $39,850 | 21% below national |
| 376 | Gadsden, AL | $39,730 | 22% below national |
| 377 | Manhattan, KS | $39,660 | 22% below national |
| 378 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $39,400 | 22% below national |
| 379 | Dalton, GA | $39,030 | 23% below national |
| 380 | Goldsboro, NC | $38,980 | 23% below national |
| 381 | Rome, GA | $38,910 | 23% below national |
| 382 | Mansfield, OH | $38,770 | 24% below national |
| 383 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,520 | 26% below national |
| 384 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $37,220 | 27% below national |
| 385 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,190 | 27% below national |
| 386 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,920 | 27% below national |
| 387 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $36,080 | 29% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 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.
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 you need to become a Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators? ▼
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 3.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.2 per 100 workers.
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 Nevada pays the least at $46,670/year. BLS data covers 48 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators is Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $109,600/year. BLS reports wage data for 387 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $61,760/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. 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.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
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.