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The national median salary for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers is $68,120 per year ($32.75/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $58,261 and $81,890 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $100,318 per year. There are approximately 28,500 computer numerically controlled tool programmers employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Develop programs to control machining or processing of materials by automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems. May also set up, operate, or maintain equipment.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+12.8%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
3K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
28K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
12% from new growth88% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing
NAICS 332700
5K
$73,670
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)
NAICS 3330A1
3K
$70,700
Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing
NAICS 333500
2K
$65,880
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only)
NAICS 3320A1
2K
$66,860
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
NAICS 336400
2K
$97,710
Wage range across top 5 industries: $65,880 to $97,710 (48% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$22.85
$47,528
P25
$28.01
$58,261
P50MEDIAN
$32.75
$68,120
P75
$39.37
$81,890
P90
$48.23
$100,318
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · manufacturing sector
Stable
Openings Rate
3.5%
Quits Rate
1.4%
Manufacturing openings ticked up to 462K (+19K) in March, with the rate at 3.5%. Hires rose to 310K. The sector has stabilized after late-2025 softening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average computer numerically controlled tool programmers salary?
The national median salary for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers is $68,120 per year ($32.75/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $58,261 and $81,890 annually.
How much do top-earning computer numerically controlled tool programmers make?
The 90th percentile salary for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers is $100,318 per year ($48.23/hr). The 75th percentile is $81,890 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for computer numerically controlled tool programmers?
Entry-level Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers (10th percentile) earn approximately $47,528 per year ($22.85/hr). The 25th percentile is $58,261 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.