CNC Programmers vs Machinists
Median pay is about $9k higher for CNC Programmers. The usual entry education is postsecondary cert for CNC Programmers and high school plus training for Machinists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | CNC Programmers | Machinists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $68,120, higher | $58,750 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $58,270, higher | $47,570 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $81,890, higher | $67,700 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +5.9% Growing fast, higher | +1.0% Growing |
| Openings a year | 2,700 | 26,100 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Postsecondary cert | High school plus training |
| Difficulty modeled | 2 / 5 | 2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Moderate | Moderate |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 59th pct | 31st pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: monitoring, mathematics, reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, critical thinking.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.