- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (See References 1), in May 2010, the average annual salary for a CNC programmer is $48,400. The lowest 10 percent of people in this field earn an average of $30,100 annually and the highest 10 percent earn an average of $71,700 annually. The average hourly salary is $23 per hour. CNC programmer annual average salaries can vary by industry and location. For example, the industry with the highest average salary is the aerospace industry and the state with the highest average annual salary is Washington.
- The average annual salary for CNC programmers working in machine shops that specialize in turned metal products and the manufacturing of products such as screws, nuts and bolts is $48,900. In aerospace parts manufacturing, the average salary is $64,500. The fabricated metals industry pays an average salary of $45,300. The metal working machinery manufacturing industry pays an average salary of $47,500 annually and the general purpose machine manufacturing industry pays an average annual salary of $45,800.
- On the West Coast, the average annual salary of a CNC programmer is $58,800. In the Midwest, the average salary is $48,280 annually. On the East Coast, the average salary is $47,500 annually and in the South and Southwest regions of the country, the average annual salary is $53,400. At $64,900, Washington has the highest average annual salary among states. The state of Vermont has the lowest annual average salary of $39, 600.
- The average annual salary for a CNC setup operator is $35,900. CNC operators working in the engineering or agricultural manufacturing field earn the highest average salary of $52,400 annually. CNC operators in the forging and metal stamping industry earn the lowest average salary of $33,000 annually. With an average annual salary of $48,700, Washington has the highest average salary for CNC operators.
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