Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator salary in the U.S.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in the U.S. earn a median of $50,690 a year ($24.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 169,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,890 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $54,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer numerically controlled tool operators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,140 | $18.34 |
| 25th percentile | $44,930 | $21.60 |
| Median | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| 75th percentile | $61,760 | $29.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,890 | $35.53 |
| Average (mean) | $54,320 | $26.11 |
Half of computer numerically controlled tool operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,224.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,112.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,949.62 |
| Weekly | $974.81 |
| Hourly | $24.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $107,920 | 2,270 |
| Massachusetts | $61,630 | 2,500 |
| North Dakota | $60,250 | 250 |
| Connecticut | $59,840 | 2,740 |
| New Hampshire | $59,730 | 1,770 |
| Maine | $59,660 | 440 |
| Vermont | $57,500 | 1,190 |
| Rhode Island | $57,390 | 540 |
| Minnesota | $56,780 | 4,290 |
| Oregon | $56,670 | 2,920 |
| California | $56,510 | 21,680 |
| Colorado | $55,270 | 1,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,590 | 7,840 |
| Wyoming | $54,170 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $54,100 | 1,770 |
| Idaho | $53,340 | 480 |
| New York | $53,340 | 5,530 |
| Wisconsin | $52,690 | 8,330 |
| Alabama | $52,380 | 3,120 |
| Iowa | $52,300 | 4,750 |
| Montana | $51,880 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $51,800 | 2,460 |
| Missouri | $51,000 | 1,500 |
| South Dakota | $50,750 | 1,420 |
| North Carolina | $50,440 | 3,680 |
| Arkansas | $50,280 | 2,180 |
| Delaware | $50,010 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $49,980 | 1,980 |
| Louisiana | $49,800 | 670 |
| West Virginia | $49,630 | 160 |
| Virginia | $49,590 | 1,890 |
| Nebraska | $49,360 | 830 |
| Kentucky | $49,180 | 1,740 |
| Ohio | $49,160 | 21,250 |
| Arizona | $48,950 | 1,800 |
| Indiana | $48,590 | 9,690 |
| Texas | $48,480 | 13,190 |
| Illinois | $48,420 | 8,170 |
| Kansas | $48,400 | 2,540 |
| Oklahoma | $47,760 | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $47,630 | 2,200 |
| Michigan | $47,250 | 7,330 |
| Maryland | $46,870 | 1,800 |
| Nevada | $46,670 | 400 |
| Florida | $46,170 | 4,040 |
| Utah | $45,140 | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $44,970 | 70 |
| Mississippi | $39,520 | 1,290 |
Best-paying metro areas for computer numerically controlled tool operators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $109,600 | 1,960 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $64,180 | 1,890 |
| Albany, OR | $64,170 | 290 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $63,610 | 110 |
| Morristown, TN | $62,760 | 70 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | $62,000 | 50 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $61,830 | 40 |
| Huntsville, AL | $61,790 | 440 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $61,650 | 300 |
| Sandusky, OH | $61,360 | 300 |
| Mobile, AL | $61,340 | 180 |
| St. Joseph, MO-KS | $60,960 | 40 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $60,600 | 230 |
| Elmira, NY | $60,260 | 140 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $60,210 | 1,640 |
Metro areas with the most computer numerically controlled tool operators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 10,450 | $54,980 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 5,480 | $48,660 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 5,200 | $50,280 |
| Cleveland, OH | 4,770 | $48,670 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,150 | $47,990 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3,010 | $57,850 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2,970 | $54,790 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,900 | $46,880 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,770 | $58,900 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 2,240 | $57,780 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 2,110 | $48,150 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,050 | $59,620 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,990 | $49,460 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,980 | $59,360 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,960 | $54,910 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,220 | $20.78 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $40,110 | $19.29 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,250 | $23.20 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,040 | $27.90 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $51,610 | $24.81 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,570 | $22.39 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $49,610 | $23.85 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $51,430 | $24.73 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9161. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer numerically controlled tool operator make in the U.S.?
The median salary for computer numerically controlled tool operators in the U.S. is $50,690 a year, or $24.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,140 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer numerically controlled tool operators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of computer numerically controlled tool operators in the U.S. earn at least $73,890 a year. The top 25% earn $61,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer numerically controlled tool operators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,140 a year, and a quarter of computer numerically controlled tool operators earn $44,930 or less.
How many computer numerically controlled tool operators work in the U.S.?
About 169,450 computer numerically controlled tool operators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.