service engineer operating cnc machine

A CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machinist is capable of making quite a comfortable living, as this skillset is one that is very unique. It requires a certain level of technical knowledge. For that reason, CNC machinist jobs remain in demand and that allows for a very competitive salary. CNC machinists have the opportunity to increase their earnings with the deeper they get into their careers. Work experience is highly valued and could lead to incremental raises, overtime pay and new employment opportunities.

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CNC Machinist Average Salary

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has compiled data on machinist salaries across the United States and come up with a median salary of $41,700 per year. However, the potential for higher annual salaries exists throughout the country. Many states feature top end salaries that are well in excess of $60,000 annually. There are a lot of different factors that go into determining the annual salary of a CNC machinist. Experience, training and the type of business all play a role in how much a SNC machinist can expect to earn over the course of a year.

It is also important to note that CNC machinists find employment in different sectors. Many CNC machinists work in shops that specialize in automotive parts, although others work for contracting manufacturers. CNC machines shape all different types of materials. Because of these differences, machinists are labeled in one comprehensive category when calculating statistics and salaries.

CNC Machinist Pay by State

Geographic location has a lot to do with how much money CNC machinists take home each week. There are some states that offer annual salaries well above the nationwide average, while a lower cost of living in other states drops the yearly pay rate in those regions. Here is a look at a state by state rundown of machinist salaries, which is based on statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These salary figures are for machinists who are currently employed in the United States.

Alabama

  • Median: $41,970 yearly ($20.18 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $60,610 yearly ($29.14 hourly)

Alaska

  • Median: $64,300 yearly ($30.91 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $79,220 yearly ($38.09 hourly)

Arizona

  • Median: $42,110 yearly ($20.25 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $62,030 yearly ($29.82 hourly)

Arkansas

  • Median: $38,300 yearly ($18.41 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $59,140 yearly ($28.43 hourly)

California

  • Median: $42,270 yearly ($20.32 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $68,820 yearly ($33.09 hourly)

Colorado

  • Median: $44,820 yearly ($21.55 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $64,690 yearly ($31.10 hourly)

Connecticut

  • Median: $48,900 yearly ($23.51 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $69,680 yearly ($33.50 hourly)

Delaware

  • Median: $54,020 yearly ($25.97 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $65,100 yearly ($31.30 hourly)

District of Columbia

  • Median: $60,190 yearly ($28.94 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $87,370 yearly ($42.00 hourly)

Florida

  • Median: $38,700 yearly ($18.61 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $57,840 yearly ($27.81 hourly)

Georgia

  • Median: $39,590 yearly ($19.03 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $63,560 yearly ($30.56 hourly)

Hawaii

  • Median: $59,520 yearly ($28.62 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $75,530 yearly ($36.31 hourly)

Idaho

  • Median: $41,140 yearly ($19.78 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $61,530 yearly ($29.58 hourly)

Illinois

  • Median: $36,500 yearly ($17.55 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $61,070 yearly ($29.36 hourly)

Indiana

  • Median: $39,170 yearly ($18.83 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $58,400 yearly ($28.08 hourly)

Iowa

  • Median: $37,960 yearly ($18.25 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $51,910 yearly ($24.96 hourly)

Kentucky

  • Median: $40,970 yearly ($19.70 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $60,090 yearly ($28.89 hourly)

Kansas

  • Median: $36,030 yearly ($17.32 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $48,920 yearly ($23.52 hourly)

Louisiana

  • Median: $47,710 yearly ($22.94 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $68,960 yearly ($33.16 hourly)

Maine

  • Median: $45,930 yearly ($22.08 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $60,620 yearly ($29.14 hourly)

Maryland

  • Median: $49,490 yearly ($23.79 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $67,830 yearly ($32.61 hourly)

Massachusetts

  • Median: $47,560 yearly ($22.87 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $71,100 yearly ($34.18 hourly)

Michigan

  • Median: $39,920 yearly ($19.19 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $60,060 yearly ($28.87 hourly)

Minnesota

  • Median: $46,870 yearly ($22.53 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $64,270 yearly ($30.90 hourly)

Mississippi

  • Median: $41,130 yearly ($19.77 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $59,630 yearly ($28.67 hourly)

Missouri

  • Median: $40,910 yearly ($19.67 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $62,520 yearly ($30.06 hourly)

Montana

  • Median: $44,210 yearly ($21.26 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $61,010 yearly ($29.33 hourly)

Nebraska                                                                                                                                

  • Median: $39,350 yearly ($18.92 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $58,660 yearly ($28.20 hourly)

Nevada

  • Median: $39,400 yearly ($18.94 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $62,590 yearly ($30.09 hourly)

New Hampshire

  • Median: $45,330 yearly ($21.79 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $63,640 yearly ($30.60 hourly)

New Jersey

  • Median: $48,110 yearly ($23.13 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $70,130 yearly ($33.72 hourly)

New Mexico

  • Median: $31,260 yearly ($15.03 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $48,350 yearly ($23.24 hourly)

New York

  • Median: $43,690 yearly ($21.01 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $64,420 yearly ($30.89 hourly)

North Carolina

  • Median: $39,390 yearly ($18.94 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $57,330 yearly ($27.56 hourly)

North Dakota

  • Median: $44,770 yearly ($21.52 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $59,710 yearly ($28.71 hourly)

Ohio

  • Median: $41,230 yearly ($19.82 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $60,750 yearly ($29.21 hourly)

Oklahoma

  • Median: $41,740 yearly ($20.07 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $61,690 yearly ($29.66 hourly)

Oregon

  • Median: $47,590 yearly ($22.88 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $66,130 yearly ($31.79 hourly)

Pennsylvania

  • Median: $41,220 yearly ($19.82 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $59,930 yearly ($28.81 hourly)

Rhode Island

  • Median: $42,910 yearly ($20.63 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $59,960 yearly ($28.83 hourly)

South Carolina

  • Median: $37,930 yearly ($18.23 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $63,140 yearly ($30.36 hourly)

South Dakota

  • Median: $36,390 yearly ($17.49 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $49,020 yearly ($23.57 hourly)

Tennessee

  • Median: $39,700 yearly ($19.09 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $63,990 yearly ($30.77 hourly)

Texas

  • Median: $42,220 yearly ($20.30 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $63,630 yearly ($30.59 hourly)

Utah

  • Median: $46,950 yearly ($22.57 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $64,010 yearly ($30.77 hourly)

Vermont

  • Median: $44,060 yearly ($21.18 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $60,450 yearly ($29.06 hourly)

Virginia

  • Median: $45,310 yearly ($21.79 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $61,570 yearly ($29.60 hourly)

Washington

  • Median: $48,490 yearly ($23.31 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $74,510 yearly ($35.82 hourly)

West Virginia

  • Median: $38,090 yearly ($18.31 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $54,130 yearly ($26.02 hourly)

Wisconsin

  • Median: $41,670 yearly ($20.04 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $57,920 yearly ($27.85 hourly)

Wyoming

  • Median: $48,770 yearly ($23.45 hourly)
  • Top 10 percent: $67,580 yearly ($32.49 hourly)

CNC Machinist Average Salaries in Metropolitan Areas

It is very common for metropolitan areas to offer higher pay rates for many different professions. CNC machinists are no exception. Those areas typically feature a greater demand for CNC machinists and that can translate into very comfortable annual salaries. Below is a glimpse at the highest paying metropolitan areas for machinists.

Vallejo-Fairfield, CA

  • Average: $69,910 yearly ($33.61 hourly)

Anchorage, AK

  • Average: $61,1400 yearly ($29.52 hourly)

Tacoma, WA

  • Average: $58,590 yearly ($28.17 hourly)

Victoria, TX

  • Average: $57,220 yearly ($27.51 hourly)

New Orleans, LA

  • Average: $56,990 yearly ($27.40 hourly)

The next highest paying metropolitan areas are Beaumont, Tex., San Francisco, Calif, and Grand Forks, N.D. CNC machinists can also make handsome salaries outside of metropolitan areas. Shops that employ CNC machinists are not typically located in areas that are populated with retail businesses. Many shops are located in industrial complexes.  

Most CNC machinists are paid hourly and that can really start to add up when factoring in overtime pay. A high volume of business translates into more hours and more substantial paychecks. There are some CNC machinists who are on salary, although those instances are much rarer. It is often more advantageous for CNC machinists to be paid on a per hour basis because of the potential for overtime pay. The willingness to work extra hours can significantly increase the yearly income of a CNC machinist.

CNC Machinist Salaries at Car Manufacturing Companies

The pay rate tends to get higher for CNC machinists who are employed by a car manufacturer. Companies like GM feature CNC machinist salaries that are much higher than the national average. However, these companies are more selective in the hiring process. That means CNC machinists looking to gain employment with a car manufacturer need to polish their resumes. This can be done with additional certifications and ongoing education.

Certifications are not as widespread in the CNC machinist field as they are in other automotive sectors. However, there is value in acquiring certifications that are issued by organizations such as the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) and the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International.

CNC machinists may also consider adding some engineering classes to bolster their appeal. There are several forms of ongoing training that extend to workshops and seminars that take place throughout the year. Adding those credentials can help when applying for a CNC machinist position that features a boost in earnings.