Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer salary in the U.S.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in the U.S. earn a median of $68,120 a year ($32.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 28,500 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,320 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $72,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for computer numerically controlled tool programmers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| 25th percentile | $58,270 | $28.01 |
| Median | $68,120 | $32.75 |
| 75th percentile | $81,890 | $39.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,320 | $48.23 |
| Average (mean) | $72,210 | $34.72 |
Half of computer numerically controlled tool programmers 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 | $5,676.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,838.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,620 |
| Weekly | $1,310 |
| Hourly | $32.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $86,390 | 500 |
| California | $82,090 | 2,990 |
| Massachusetts | $81,670 | 680 |
| Washington | $81,420 | 660 |
| Missouri | $78,130 | 430 |
| Vermont | $77,980 | 140 |
| Kansas | $76,080 | 680 |
| North Dakota | $75,990 | 40 |
| Oregon | $75,150 | 500 |
| Arizona | $74,450 | 470 |
| Virginia | $74,390 | 330 |
| Minnesota | $74,190 | 1,250 |
| Maine | $72,920 | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $71,680 | 290 |
| Montana | $70,860 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $70,460 | 520 |
| Tennessee | $69,700 | 330 |
| Colorado | $69,570 | 410 |
| Texas | $69,550 | 1,930 |
| South Carolina | $69,470 | 340 |
| Illinois | $68,830 | 1,070 |
| New York | $68,730 | 1,140 |
| Wisconsin | $67,460 | 1,610 |
| South Dakota | $66,650 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,330 | 1,080 |
| Maryland | $65,670 | 200 |
| Utah | $65,610 | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $65,590 | 330 |
| Kentucky | $64,980 | 230 |
| Michigan | $64,640 | 2,300 |
| Alabama | $64,590 | 420 |
| North Carolina | $63,990 | 760 |
| Florida | $63,970 | 770 |
| Idaho | $63,560 | 120 |
| Indiana | $63,200 | 1,490 |
| Nebraska | $63,190 | 70 |
| Rhode Island | $62,640 | 70 |
| Georgia | $61,360 | 420 |
| Ohio | $60,080 | 2,370 |
| Iowa | $57,780 | 640 |
| Nevada | $57,210 | 130 |
| Arkansas | $56,390 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $50,190 | 140 |
Best-paying metro areas for computer numerically controlled tool programmers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $102,980 | 420 |
| Wichita, KS | $99,790 | 390 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $94,230 | 290 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $93,770 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $93,640 | 260 |
| Boulder, CO | $91,420 | 40 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $89,190 | 290 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $87,880 | 70 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $86,860 | 400 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $85,560 | 540 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $84,260 | 100 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $83,730 | 60 |
| New Haven, CT | $83,200 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82,950 | 1,350 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $81,170 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most computer numerically controlled tool programmers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,350 | $82,950 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,030 | $65,870 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 850 | $78,010 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 800 | $69,400 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 780 | $71,310 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 720 | $69,820 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 650 | $66,860 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 540 | $85,560 |
| Cleveland, OH | 490 | $63,840 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 480 | $63,560 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 420 | $102,980 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 410 | $71,060 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 400 | $75,660 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 400 | $86,860 |
| Wichita, KS | 390 | $99,790 |
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 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| 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 |
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9162. 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 programmer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for computer numerically controlled tool programmers in the U.S. is $68,120 a year, or $32.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $100,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid computer numerically controlled tool programmers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of computer numerically controlled tool programmers in the U.S. earn at least $100,320 a year. The top 25% earn $81,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for computer numerically controlled tool programmers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,530 a year, and a quarter of computer numerically controlled tool programmers earn $58,270 or less.
How many computer numerically controlled tool programmers work in the U.S.?
About 28,500 computer numerically controlled tool programmers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.