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Salary guide · BLS, May 2025CNC Operator salary by state
CNC operators in the United States earned a median of $24.37 an hour (about $50,690 a year) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $21.60 and $29.69, and 169,450 people held the job.
Washington pays CNC operators the most.
Of the 14 states where we have open searches, Washington has the highest median at $51.88 and Michigan the lowest at $22.72. In Montana, our home state, the median is $24.94. Ranked by median, with the national figure first.
| Where | People in the job | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 169,450 | $21.60 | $24.37 | $29.69 |
| Washington | 2,270 | $35.54 | $51.88 | $56.09 |
| Minnesota | 4,290 | $22.78 | $27.30 | $30.10 |
| Oregon | Not published | $22.75 | $27.24 | $30.97 |
| California | 21,680 | $22.66 | $27.17 | $30.70 |
| Pennsylvania | 7,840 | $22.61 | $26.25 | $30.38 |
| Wisconsin | 8,330 | $22.68 | $25.33 | $29.80 |
| Montana | 240 | $22.60 | $24.94 | $28.87 |
| North Carolina | 3,680 | $21.22 | $24.25 | $30.81 |
| Ohio | 21,250 | $20.15 | $23.63 | $29.76 |
| Arizona | Not published | $21.65 | $23.53 | $29.98 |
| Texas | 13,190 | $18.94 | $23.31 | $28.73 |
| Illinois | 8,170 | $20.22 | $23.28 | $28.73 |
| Georgia | Not published | $19.57 | $22.90 | $28.40 |
| Michigan | 7,330 | $19.09 | $22.72 | $27.88 |
CNC Tool Operators (SOC 51-9161), an hour. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Our jobs in this group with posted pay.
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CNC Operator pay, answered
How much does a CNC operator make?
CNC operators in the United States earned a median of $24.37 an hour (about $50,690 a year) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $21.60 and $29.69, and 169,450 people held the job.
Which state pays CNC operators the most?
Of the 14 states where we have open searches, Washington pays the most, a median of $51.88 an hour, and Michigan the least, $22.72. The national median is $24.37.
How much does a CNC operator make in Montana?
A median of $24.94 an hour in Montana in May 2025, with the middle half between $22.60 and $28.87, across 240 people in the job.
Where does this data come from?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025, for the federal wage group CNC Tool Operators (SOC 51-9161). We publish it here at Compass Group Recruiting, next to our own open searches.
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