CNC Machinist Salary: United States
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The median annual wage for CNC Machinist in the United States was $58,750 in May 2025 (BLS). The middle half of workers earned between $47,570 and $67,700.
Broader occupation Our title "CNC Machinist" is reported by BLS as SOC 51-4041 Machinists. BLS groups CNC Machinist within Machinists; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately.
Annual wages
CNC Machinist, the United States, annual wages: 10% earned less than $39,200, half earned less than the median of $58,750, 90% earned less than $80,010 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Annual wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39,200 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $47,570 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $58,750 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $67,700 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $80,010 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $59,320 | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Hourly wages
CNC Machinist, the United States, hourly wages: 10% earned less than $18.85, half earned less than the median of $28.24, 90% earned less than $38.47 (BLS, May 2025).
| Measure | Hourly wage | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.85 per hour | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $22.87 per hour | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median (50th) | $28.24 per hour | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $32.55 per hour | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $38.47 per hour | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $28.52 per hour | Arithmetic average of reported wages. |
Employment: BLS estimates 287,050 workers in this occupation nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-4041 Machinists, National.
What BLS wages include. Base pay plus any guaranteed or production-based incentive pay. They leave out overtime, discretionary bonus, benefits, per diem and relocation.
BLS definitions, verbatim
wages
Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
hours
Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly wages by 2,080 hours; for occupations where hourly wages are not published, annual wages were taken directly from the reported survey data.
Target metros
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th percentile | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $60,700 | $48,540 to $71,920 | 2,170 | 0.42 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $57,160 | $48,710 to $63,110 | 1,530 | 0.57 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $57,390 | $46,840 to $64,330 | 710 | 0.27 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $61,430 | $49,040 to $65,160 | 570 | 0.42 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $62,750 | $50,920 to $78,240 | 4,300 | 0.25 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $62,750 | $50,920 to $78,240 | 4,300 | 0.25 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $59,830 | $48,820 to $71,230 | 4,660 | 0.62 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $61,280 | $49,480 to $71,770 | 8,140 | 1.34 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $59,520 | $47,770 to $68,260 | 11,270 | 1.35 |
How does CNC Machinist pay differ by industry?
These are national industry estimates for SOC 51-4041, not local offers or separate estimates for the niche title. Industry names are exactly as BLS publishes them.
| Industry | NAICS | Median | Basis | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 22 | $104,700 | Annual | 390 |
| Utilities | 221000 | $104,700 | Annual | 390 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | 221100 | $105,220 | Annual | 310 |
| Natural Gas Distribution | 221200 | $100,540 | Annual | 60 |
| Construction | 23 | $63,360 | Annual | 2,480 |
| Construction of Buildings | 236000 | $80,970 | Annual | 650 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | $80,970 | Annual | 640 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237000 | $60,710 | Annual | 460 |
| Utility System Construction | 237100 | $60,510 | Annual | 410 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | 237900 | $62,380 | Annual | 50 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 238000 | $61,200 | Annual | 1,360 |
| Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors | 238100 | $58,290 | Annual | 170 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | $61,950 | Annual | 1,100 |
| Building Finishing Contractors | 238300 | $45,000 | Annual | 50 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 238900 | $62,900 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Food Manufacturing | 311000 | $52,480 | Annual | 1,070 |
| Grain and Oilseed Milling | 311200 | $56,910 | Annual | 50 |
| Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 311300 | $68,640 | Annual | 120 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | 311500 | $53,270 | Annual | 80 |
| Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 311600 | $37,880 | Annual | 80 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 311800 | $52,480 | Annual | 570 |
| Other Food Manufacturing | 311900 | $47,630 | Annual | 100 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 312000 | $88,750 | Annual | 420 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | 312100 | $88,750 | Annual | 390 |
| Tobacco Manufacturing | 312200 | $86,060 | Annual | 30 |
| Textile Mills | 313000 | $68,700 | Annual | 60 |
| Fabric Mills | 313200 | $70,180 | Annual | 50 |
| Manufacturing | 31-33 | $58,540 | Annual | 241,490 |
| Textile Product Mills | 314000 | $65,460 | Annual | 30 |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | 321000 | $54,390 | Annual | 520 |
| Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 321100 | $69,910 | Annual | 70 |
| Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 321200 | $60,830 | Annual | 110 |
| Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 321900 | $48,880 | Annual | 340 |
| Paper Manufacturing | 322000 | $62,920 | Annual | 610 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 322100 | $87,730 | Annual | 110 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 322200 | $54,410 | Annual | 500 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 323000 | $56,630 | Annual | 160 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 323100 | $56,630 | Annual | 160 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324000 | $108,490 | Annual | 810 |
| Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 324100 | $108,490 | Annual | 810 |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 325000 | $55,600 | Annual | 2,050 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3250A1 | $63,820 | Annual | 830 |
| Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 3250A2 | $46,260 | Annual | 190 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 325400 | $48,930 | Annual | 1,030 |
| Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 326000 | $60,300 | Annual | 3,600 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 326100 | $60,540 | Annual | 2,690 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 326200 | $59,090 | Annual | 920 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 327000 | $61,000 | Annual | 880 |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 331000 | $54,210 | Annual | 5,640 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 331100 | $59,500 | Annual | 1,060 |
| Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 331200 | $50,990 | Annual | 1,110 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 331300 | $71,870 | Annual | 390 |
| Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 331400 | $58,360 | Annual | 900 |
| Foundries | 331500 | $49,280 | Annual | 2,180 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 332000 | $54,910 | Annual | 101,640 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3320A1 | $51,850 | Annual | 16,400 |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3320A2 | $55,550 | Annual | 7,490 |
| Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 332700 | $55,660 | Annual | 77,100 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 332800 | $49,390 | Annual | 650 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 333000 | $59,590 | Annual | 59,550 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 3330A1 | $59,780 | Annual | 28,550 |
| Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 333300 | $58,750 | Annual | 1,330 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 333500 | $57,980 | Annual | 21,200 |
| Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 333600 | $61,230 | Annual | 8,470 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 334000 | $60,790 | Annual | 11,210 |
| Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 334100 | $57,000 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 334200 | $64,500 | Annual | 430 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 334300 | $57,640 | Annual | 60 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 334400 | $57,440 | Annual | 3,000 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 334500 | $61,180 | Annual | 7,670 |
| Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 335000 | $58,560 | Annual | 5,570 |
| Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 335100 | $50,310 | Annual | 240 |
| Household Appliance Manufacturing | 335200 | $59,060 | Annual | 70 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 335300 | $59,590 | Annual | 2,830 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 335900 | $55,460 | Annual | 2,440 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336000 | $61,920 | Annual | 37,190 |
| Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 336300 | $54,270 | Annual | 9,360 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 336400 | $64,140 | Annual | 19,950 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 336500 | $50,720 | Annual | 1,000 |
| Ship and Boat Building | 336600 | $62,900 | Annual | 3,490 |
| Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336900 | $51,110 | Annual | 750 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 337000 | $48,380 | Annual | 670 |
| Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 3370A1 | $48,120 | Annual | 670 |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339000 | $59,570 | Annual | 9,780 |
| Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 339100 | $60,680 | Annual | 6,120 |
| Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 339900 | $53,260 | Annual | 3,660 |
| Air Transportation | 481000 | $81,960 | Annual | 130 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | 481100 | $81,960 | Annual | 120 |
| Rail Transportation | 482000 | $88,030 | Annual | 3,440 |
| Rail Transportation | 482100 | $88,030 | Annual | 3,440 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | 488000 | $63,280 | Annual | 1,010 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 488100 | $62,570 | Annual | 790 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | 488300 | $71,580 | Annual | 190 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 53 | $60,300 | Annual | 390 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | 532000 | $57,700 | Annual | 350 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | 5320A1 | $57,700 | Annual | 350 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 54 | $68,480 | Annual | 4,100 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541000 | $68,480 | Annual | 4,100 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | $65,620 | Annual | 2,340 |
| Specialized Design Services | 541400 | $58,930 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 541600 | $63,350 | Annual | 170 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 541700 | $84,710 | Annual | 1,130 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 541900 | $70,740 | Annual | 200 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562000 | $74,990 | Annual | 70 |
| Repair and Maintenance | 811000 | $59,750 | Annual | 7,470 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 811100 | $49,390 | Annual | 1,050 |
| Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance | 811200 | $64,480 | Annual | Not published by BLS |
| Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance | 811300 | $60,960 | Annual | 6,210 |
| Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance | 811400 | $47,010 | Annual | 110 |
Industry estimates are national. Do not combine an industry median with a local percentile to invent an industry-specific local rate.
Which related roles have a different BLS occupation?
A supervisory occupation is not an experience percentile for the craft. Compare the actual responsibilities and the published SOC.
Machine Shop Supervisor (51-1011)Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?
This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Machinists. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.
| Metro | Median | Employment | Location quotient | Trade median / all-occupations median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $84,410 | 250 | 0.3 | 1.48 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $82,690 | 160 | 1.59 | 2.08 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $80,620 | 370 | 2.11 | 1.28 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $77,650 | 30 | 0.2 | 1.38 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $75,580 | 280 | 1.51 | 1.65 |
| Anchorage, AK | $75,040 | 50 | 0.16 | 1.25 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $74,560 | 4,250 | 1.1 | 1.03 |
| Bismarck, ND | $74,090 | 70 | 0.55 | 1.41 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $72,060 | 4,870 | 0.98 | 1.08 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $71,620 | 50 | 0.4 | 1.51 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $46,290 | 680 | 2.62 | 1.04 |
| Cleveland, TN | $46,120 | 50 | 0.59 | 1.15 |
| Johnson City, TN | $45,550 | 180 | 1.18 | 1.05 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $45,370 | 50 | 0.33 | 1.08 |
| Kokomo, IN | $45,200 | 60 | 0.85 | 0.92 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $43,430 | 460 | 1.63 | 0.96 |
| Amarillo, TX | $41,900 | 360 | 1.59 | 0.94 |
| Springfield, OH | $37,380 | 310 | 3.65 | 0.82 |
| Aguadilla, PR | $32,490 | 40 | 0.49 | 1.23 |
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $29,310 | 920 | 0.72 | 1.00 |
The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.
What do these published wages mean for an offer?
Skilled Trades Headhunters reads the May 2025 figures for CNC Machinist in National as an offer reference, not a quote for a particular candidate. For CNC Machinist in National, the published median for SOC 51-4041, Machinists, is $58,750 per year. The middle half of the CNC Machinist in National wage distribution runs from $47,570 to $67,700, a width of $20,130 per year; that spread shows how much published pay varies within the occupation and area, without assigning experience levels.
For the national CNC Machinist comparison, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN reports $59,520 per year while Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI reports $62,070 per year; these are the largest-employment metros with published medians for the occupation, rather than neighboring places to a national estimate. The United States CNC Machinist figure pools markets with different work scopes and schedules, so use the area table before setting a local offer.
The highest published medians among the selected national industry rows for Machinists, read alongside CNC Machinist in National, are Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $108,490 per year (NAICS 324000); Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $108,490 per year (NAICS 324100); Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution at $105,220 per year (NAICS 221100). Those CNC Machinist in National industry comparisons are national cross-sections, not local industry estimates; BLS does not give us a metro-by-industry wage cut here, and overlapping industry groups should not be added together.
The CNC Machinist in National median was $56,150 per year in May 2024, compared with $58,750 in May 2025, a published difference of $2,600. That CNC Machinist in National comparison is between separate BLS releases, not the raise paid to the same workers or a projection of next year's offer. Read the $56,150 and $58,750 CNC Machinist in National estimates with both dates visible, because the employers and workers represented by the survey can change.
Before offering $58,750 per year for CNC Machinist in National, separate on-call duties, overtime, travel reimbursement, tool replacement and any truck allowance separately; prevailing wage and union requirements must be checked against the actual assignment. The CNC Machinist in National BLS comparison includes ordinary wages and qualifying incentive pay, but leaves overtime, discretionary bonuses, benefits and relocation outside this wage figure. A candidate's take-home pay and the employer's total cost for CNC Machinist in National can therefore differ from the median without either number being an error.
The mapping for CNC Machinist in National is broader: BLS groups CNC Machinist within Machinists; it does not publish this niche title or credential level separately. When calibrating a CNC Machinist in National opening, the work checks include Setup vs operate level; industrial robotics/machine-tool manufacturers/machine-tool manufacturers; ask for evidence of that scope instead of using a percentile as a substitute for qualification. A broader occupation can combine jobs that a CNC Machinist in National buyer would screen separately, which is why the badge and SOC remain beside the figures.
Questions about this occupation and area
What does the middle-half band tell a CNC Machinist in National buyer?
CNC Machinist in National has a published middle-half band of $47,570 to $67,700, a width of $20,130 per year, with median $58,750. An offer inside that CNC Machinist in National band is not automatically competitive for every scope; match the required work and the separate pay terms first.
Which areas should I compare before hiring CNC Machinist in National?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN and Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI are the largest-employment comparison markets used for CNC Machinist in National. Comparing those Machinists tables with the $58,750 CNC Machinist in National median does not measure commuting costs or predict what a particular applicant will accept.
Are the industry figures local to CNC Machinist in National?
CNC Machinist in National uses national industry rows for SOC 51-4041, not local sector-specific wages. Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing leads the selected sortable rows at $108,490 per year, but that national industry figure is not a quoted offer for CNC Machinist in National.
What changed between the releases for CNC Machinist in National?
CNC Machinist in National moved from $56,150 in May 2024 to $58,750 in May 2025. These CNC Machinist in National published medians do not describe an individual raise or establish a future wage trend.
What changed since May 2024
SOC 51-4041. Published annual median: $56,150 (May 2024) and $58,750 (May 2025). These are two BLS releases, not a projection.