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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
This is the salary picture most job boards don't show you. The national median salary for CNC Operators in 2026 is $53,539, with entry-level positions averaging $38,548 and senior roles reaching $76,025. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $97,520, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Production within the broader Production & Manufacturing industry, CNC Operators typically hold High school + training. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is factory. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$59,340 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A CNC Operator in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $97,520 — $59,340 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($38,180). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level CNC Operators average $38,548, the median sits at $53,539, and senior earners pull in $76,025. That $37,477 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $26,828 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $91,080, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $38,487. The $52,593 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A CNC Operator in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $97,520 — $59,340 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($38,180). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $38,548 | $53,539 | $76,025 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £20,032 | £27,822 | £39,508 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$31,724 | CA$44,061 | CA$62,566 |
| Australia | 13 | A$37,748 | A$52,428 | A$74,448 |
| Sweden | 24 | 225,810 kr | 313,626 kr | 445,348 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $46,525 | $64,619 | $91,759 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $44,961 | $62,445 | $88,672 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $44,712 | $62,100 | $88,182 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $41,400 | $57,500 | $81,650 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $40,903 | $56,810 | $80,670 |
| Washington | 8 | $40,117 | $55,718 | $79,119 |
| New York | 5 | $37,757 | $52,440 | $74,465 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $37,757 | $52,440 | $74,465 |
| Florida | 22 | $37,471 | $52,043 | $73,901 |
| Colorado | 11 | $36,823 | $51,144 | $72,624 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $36,763 | $51,060 | $72,505 |
| Nevada | 5 | $36,697 | $50,968 | $72,375 |
| Arizona | 12 | $36,515 | $50,715 | $72,015 |
| Oregon | 5 | $36,432 | $50,600 | $71,852 |
| Idaho | 3 | $36,322 | $50,447 | $71,634 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $36,035 | $50,048 | $71,068 |
| Utah | 4 | $35,935 | $49,910 | $70,872 |
| Virginia | 7 | $35,344 | $49,089 | $69,706 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $34,886 | $48,453 | $68,804 |
| Alaska | 1 | $34,776 | $48,300 | $68,586 |
| Illinois | 5 | $34,378 | $47,748 | $67,802 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $33,525 | $46,562 | $66,118 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $33,120 | $46,000 | $65,320 |
| Montana | 1 | $33,120 | $46,000 | $65,320 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $33,010 | $45,847 | $65,102 |
| Texas | 40 | $32,847 | $45,621 | $64,781 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $32,789 | $45,540 | $64,667 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $32,623 | $45,310 | $64,340 |
| Georgia | 6 | $32,513 | $45,157 | $64,123 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $32,458 | $45,080 | $64,014 |
| Kansas | 4 | $32,292 | $44,850 | $63,687 |
| Michigan | 6 | $32,182 | $44,697 | $63,470 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $31,796 | $44,160 | $62,708 |
| Maryland | 1 | $31,795 | $44,160 | $62,707 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $31,464 | $43,700 | $62,054 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $31,464 | $43,700 | $62,054 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $30,636 | $42,550 | $60,421 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $30,470 | $42,320 | $60,094 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $30,056 | $41,745 | $59,278 |
| Missouri | 4 | $30,057 | $41,745 | $59,278 |
| Alabama | 5 | $29,941 | $41,584 | $59,049 |
| Indiana | 3 | $29,477 | $40,940 | $58,135 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $29,477 | $40,940 | $58,135 |
| Iowa | 2 | $29,146 | $40,480 | $57,482 |
| Ohio | 6 | $29,091 | $40,403 | $57,373 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $27,821 | $38,640 | $54,869 |
At the state level, California leads with an average CNC Operator median of $64,619 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($62,445) and Hawaii ($62,100). But raw salary is only half the story. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $38,640 and $40,480. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($97,520 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $46,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $97,520 | 212 | $46,000 | $60,582 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $91,080 | 198 | $46,000 | $56,908 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $84,640 | 184 | $46,000 | $53,234 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $83,260 | 181 | $46,000 | $52,447 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $81,880 | 178 | $46,000 | $51,660 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $81,420 | 177 | $46,000 | $51,397 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $81,420 | 177 | $46,000 | $51,397 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $79,580 | 173 | $46,000 | $50,347 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $79,580 | 173 | $46,000 | $50,347 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $77,740 | 169 | $46,000 | $49,298 |
From a career planning perspective, CNC Operator offers a $37,477 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires High school + training. Day-to-day, expect factory work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for CNC Operators is $53,539 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $38,548, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $76,025.
The highest-paying city for CNC Operators is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $97,520. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($97,520), Santa Clara ($91,080), Irvine ($84,640). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median CNC Operator salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $38,180. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level CNC Operators (10th percentile) average $38,548 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $70,214. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), CNC Operators average $76,025 nationally — $37,477 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior CNC Operators can earn up to $138,478.
The top-paying states for CNC Operators are California ($64,619 median), Massachusetts ($62,445 median), Hawaii ($62,100 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a CNC Operator involves High school + training. The field is in the Production & Manufacturing sector (Production), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically factory.
With a national median of $53,539 and representation across 288 metro areas, CNC Operator offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $37,477 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.