Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Computer numerically controlled (CNC) tool programmers work in a specialized technical role with a solid mix of skills in technology, math, mechanics, and problem solving. Nationally, there are 28,000 people working in this occupation, with a median annual salary of $65,670. The field is projected to grow by 12.8%, and there are about 3,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing demand. The work benefits from strengths in computers and information technology, mathematics, mechanical aptitude, and being detail oriented, along with creativity and innovation. Strong critical and analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making, fine motor abilities, and science knowledge also play a key role. For people who enjoy combining hands-on precision with analytical and technical skills, this career offers a focused path with measurable employment opportunities and a defined educational route through a postsecondary nondegree award. It can also serve as a foundation for exploring related technical careers such as various engineering technologist and technician roles.
Computer numerically controlled tool programmers earn a national median annual salary of $65,670. This provides a solid income baseline at the national level, with the potential for higher pay in certain states and metro areas. For example, among top states by opportunity score, median salaries reach $82,090 in California and $81,670 in Massachusetts, while New York, Colorado, and Washington offer median salaries in the upper $60,000s to low $80,000s. At the metro level, some areas stand out even more: the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro shows a median salary of $102,980, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reaches $93,640. Other high-opportunity metros such as Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ also provide median salaries above the national figure. Overall, pay can vary significantly by location, with certain regions offering notably higher earning potential.
This occupation has a national employment level of 28,000 computer numerically controlled tool programmers, with projected employment growth of 12.8%. This projected growth indicates that the field is expected to expand rather than contract over the forecast period. There are about 3,000 annual openings, which reflect a combination of new positions and opportunities created as people change roles or leave the workforce. The consistent 12.8% growth rate also appears across the top states and metro areas listed by opportunity score, suggesting that expansion is broadly distributed across multiple regions rather than being confined to a single area. For job seekers, the combination of existing employment, defined growth, and recurring annual openings points to a career path with ongoing chances to enter or advance in the field. Individuals who build the relevant technical and analytical skills can align themselves with these projected opportunities over time.
Location can make a meaningful difference for computer numerically controlled tool programmers, both in pay and in overall opportunity. Among states, California ranks highest by opportunity score (67.38), with a median salary of $82,090 and employment of 2,990. Massachusetts and Washington also offer high median salaries (around $81,000), while New York and Colorado provide median pay in the upper $60,000s. All top states share the same projected growth rate of 12.8%, so the main differences are in salary levels, employment size, and opportunity scores. At the metro level, variations are even more pronounced. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA combines the highest median salary of $102,980 with the top metro opportunity score of 77.42. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA also score highly, with median salaries of $71,310 and $93,640 respectively. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV round out the leading metros, each pairing notable salaries with strong opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for computer numerically controlled tool programmers is a postsecondary nondegree award. This indicates a focused, career-oriented training path rather than a traditional four-year degree. Success in this field relies on a blend of technical and cognitive skills. Strong abilities in computers and information technology and mathematics underpin much of the technical work. Being detail oriented and having mechanical aptitude are also central, reflecting the importance of precision and understanding of tools and equipment. Creativity and innovation, along with project management, support effective planning and execution of work. Critical and analytical thinking, as well as problem solving and decision making, help professionals address complex tasks and make sound judgments. Fine motor skills and science knowledge further contribute to accuracy and technical understanding. Together, this skill set shows that the role combines hands-on capability with analytical and organizational strengths, supported by specialized postsecondary training.
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