CNC Machine Programmer I Salary in the United States
How much does a CNC Machine Programmer I make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a CNC Machine Programmer I in the United States is $63,393 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.
However, a CNC Machine Programmer I's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $74,187
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,080 to $69,043
Key Factors That Influence CNC Machine Programmer I Salaries
A CNC Machine Programmer I's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects CNC Machine Programmer Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a CNC Machine Programmer I's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
CNC Machine Programmer I (0-2 years): $63,393
CNC Machine Programmer II (2-4 years): $72,344
CNC Machine Programmer III (4-7 years): $85,272
CNC Machine Programmer IV (7+ years): $109,475
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
CNC Machine Programmer I
0-2 years
$63,393
CNC Machine Programmer II
2-4 years
$72,344
CNC Machine Programmer III
4-7 years
$85,272
CNC Machine Programmer IV
7+ years
$109,475
$63,393CNC Machi...
$72,344CNC Machi...
$85,272CNC Machi...
$109,475CNC Machi...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do CNC Machine Programmer I Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract CNC Machine Programmer Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $79,958
San Francisco: $79,082
Oakland: $77,416
San Jose, CA$79,958
San Francisco, CA$79,082
Oakland, CA$77,416
New York, NY$72,990
Paramus, NJ$72,103
Queens Village, NY$72,099
Passaic, NJ$72,039
Bergenfield, NJ$72,033
Stamford, CT$71,894
Huntington, NY$71,868
Newark, NJ$71,400
Bridgeport, CT$71,266
Vallejo, CA$71,140
New Brunswick, NJ$71,114
Petaluma, CA$71,076
Middlesex, NJ$70,956
Somerset, NJ$70,911
Santa Cruz, CA$70,829
Boston, MA$70,442
Monterey, CA$70,220
Seattle, WA$70,075
Santa Rosa, CA$70,062
Los Angeles, CA$70,043
Juneau, AK$69,878
Washington, DC$69,808
Orange, CA$69,583
Santa Ana, CA$69,415
Long Beach, CA$69,352
Anaheim, CA$69,339
Anchorage, AK$69,308
Santa Maria, CA$69,117
Everett, WA$69,105
Danbury, CT$68,882
Bremerton, WA$68,794
Tacoma, WA$68,566
New Suffolk, NY$68,565
Sacramento, CA$68,547
Santa Barbara, CA$68,477
Trenton, NJ$68,407
San Diego, CA$68,407
Brockton, MA$68,338
Fairbanks, AK$68,182
Lompoc, CA$68,021
Lowell, MA$67,969
Ventura, CA$67,957
Nashua, NH$67,945
Stockton, CA$67,938
Modesto, CA$67,476
Poughkeepsie, NY$67,336
Olympia, WA$67,216
Kennewick, WA$67,216
New Haven, CT$67,190
Lawrence, MA$66,962
Hartford, CT$66,899
Riverside, CA$66,886
New Bedford, MA$66,823
Richland, WA$66,823
Bakersfield, CA$66,734
San Bernardino, CA$66,708
New Britain, CT$66,702
Atlantic City, NJ$66,702
New London, CT$66,677
Norwich, CT$66,658
Portsmouth, NH$66,645
Boulder, CO$66,511
Portland, OR$66,423
Worcester, MA$66,417
Minneapolis, MN$66,220
Philadelphia, PA$66,132
Honolulu, HI$65,922
Saint Paul, MN$65,892
Vineland, NJ$65,878
Providence, RI$65,694
Chicago, IL$65,510
Bellingham, WA$65,434
Springfield, MA$65,384
Baltimore, MD$65,365
Chico, CA$65,206
Pittsfield, MA$65,035
Manchester, NH$64,914
Spokane, WA$64,636
Denver, CO$64,629
Albany, NY$64,331
Troy, NY$64,306
Nassau, NY$64,238
Schenectady, NY$64,173
Wilmington, DE$64,122
Burlington, VT$64,033
Salem, OR$64,008
Portland, ME$63,811
Yakima, WA$63,748
Rochester, MN$63,551
Reno, NV$63,520
Fresno, CA$63,520
Milwaukee, WI$63,463
Detroit, MI$63,399
Ann Arbor, MI$63,389
Allentown, PA$63,380
Colorado Springs, CO$63,273
Syracuse, NY$63,241
Carson City, NV$63,241
Houston, TX$63,152
Eugene, OR$63,120
Gary, IN$63,044
Springfield, OR$62,994
Bismarck, ND$62,981
Galveston, TX$62,937
Medford, OR$62,841
Fort Collins, CO$62,816
Concord, NH$62,784
Austin, TX$62,765
Mesa, AZ$62,632
Reading, PA$62,626
Phoenix, AZ$62,620
Dallas, TX$62,601
Saint Cloud, MN$62,540
Madison, WI$62,455
Utica, NY$62,284
Rochester, NY$62,182
Des Moines, IA$62,176
Raleigh, NC$62,170
Atlanta, GA$62,074
Battle Creek, MI$62,055
Salt Lake City, UT$62,036
Lancaster, PA$61,941
Harrisburg, PA$61,853
Kansas City, MO$61,789
Champaign, IL$61,776
Kansas City, KS$61,776
Fort Worth, TX$61,770
Columbus, OH$61,759
Boca Raton, FL$61,745
Pittsburgh, PA$61,719
Richmond, VA$61,694
Indianapolis, IN$61,681
Cleveland, OH$61,675
Las Vegas, NV$61,599
Cincinnati, OH$61,599
Petersburg, VA$61,504
Huntsville, AL$61,409
Lansing, MI$61,366
Lebanon, PA$61,358
Pueblo, CO$61,352
Appleton, WI$61,333
Buffalo, NY$61,307
Dayton, OH$61,288
Racine, WI$61,276
Charlotte, NC$61,269
Saint Louis, MO$61,250
York, PA$61,212
Elkhart, IN$61,212
Gastonia, NC$61,200
Billings, MT$61,185
Beaumont, TX$61,168
Lorain, OH$61,155
Benton Harbor, MI$61,143
Toledo, OH$61,130
Binghamton, NY$61,098
Rock Hill, SC$61,092
Rockford, IL$61,060
Springfield, IL$61,035
Elyria, OH$61,028
Fargo, ND$61,028
Flagstaff, AZ$60,984
Fort Lauderdale, FL$60,946
Duluth, MN$60,908
Miami, FL$60,908
Cheyenne, WY$60,864
Grand Forks, ND$60,864
Bangor, ME$60,724
Cedar Rapids, IA$60,654
Durham, NC$60,628
Louisville, KY$60,623
Grand Rapids, MI$60,610
Hialeah, FL$60,604
Casper, WY$60,515
Scranton, PA$60,439
New Orleans, LA$60,420
Virginia Beach, VA$60,414
Akron, OH$60,382
Peoria, IL$60,299
Sarasota, FL$60,287
Nashville, TN$60,242
Omaha, NE$60,242
Green Bay, WI$60,242
Baton Rouge, LA$60,211
Charleston, SC$60,198
Jamestown, NY$60,166
Davenport, IA$60,166
Tucson, AZ$60,135
Saint Petersburg, FL$60,097
Tampa, FL$60,084
Evansville, IN$60,046
Port Arthur, TX$60,046
Bradenton, FL$60,020
Santa Fe, NM$59,906
Orlando, FL$59,792
Clearwater, FL$59,773
Canton, OH$59,640
La Crosse, WI$59,640
Albuquerque, NM$59,602
Newport News, VA$59,596
High Point, NC$59,577
Ogden, UT$59,551
Corpus Christi, TX$59,501
Norfolk, VA$59,463
Laramie, WY$59,463
Rock Island, IL$59,425
Saginaw, MI$59,412
Jacksonville, FL$59,406
Salisbury, NC$59,393
Boise, ID$59,380
Moline, IL$59,349
Fort Myers, FL$59,330
Memphis, TN$59,317
Tulsa, OK$59,285
Waterloo, IA$59,247
Spartanburg, SC$59,184
Lincoln, NE$59,152
Fort Wayne, IN$59,139
Provo, UT$59,133
Cedar Falls, IA$59,057
San Antonio, TX$59,032
Greensboro, NC$59,006
South Bend, IN$59,000
Savannah, GA$58,930
Muskegon, MI$58,905
Birmingham, AL$58,898
Winston Salem, NC$58,867
Lake Charles, LA$58,715
Anderson, IN$58,702
Lexington, KY$58,683
Augusta, GA$58,664
Greenville, SC$58,664
Lima, OH$58,613
Wichita, KS$58,607
Tuscaloosa, AL$58,607
Columbia, SC$58,550
Springfield, OH$58,537
Asheville, NC$58,436
Bloomington, IN$58,391
Knoxville, TN$58,163
Shreveport, LA$58,157
Wilmington, NC$58,074
Roanoke, VA$58,074
Topeka, KS$57,960
Frankfort, KY$57,953
Oklahoma City, OK$57,910
Chillicothe, OH$57,884
Longview, TX$57,878
Melbourne, FL$57,871
Sioux Falls, SD$57,770
Mobile, AL$57,764
Terre Haute, IN$57,738
Altoona, PA$57,700
Amarillo, TX$57,656
Killeen, TX$57,637
Fayetteville, AR$57,586
Chattanooga, TN$57,567
Sioux City, IA$57,510
Idaho Falls, ID$57,497
Lynchburg, VA$57,447
Gainesville, FL$57,364
Portsmouth, OH$57,333
Little Rock, AR$57,320
Lafayette, LA$57,295
Youngstown, OH$57,295
Daytona Beach, FL$57,257
Clarksville, TN$57,250
Pensacola, FL$57,244
Temple, TX$57,239
Hopkinsville, KY$57,054
Erie, PA$57,041
Florence, SC$57,016
Charleston, WV$56,914
Great Falls, MT$56,883
Macon, GA$56,794
Tallahassee, FL$56,787
Fayetteville, NC$56,775
Waco, TX$56,762
Helena, MT$56,718
Pine Bluff, AR$56,694
Vincennes, IN$56,616
Lubbock, TX$56,591
Alamogordo, NM$56,553
Twin Falls, ID$56,496
Rapid City, SD$56,477
Jackson, MS$56,363
Huntington, WV$56,358
Greenville, MS$56,356
Parkersburg, WV$56,292
Montgomery, AL$56,280
Wichita Falls, TX$56,217
Springfield, MO$56,217
Biloxi, MS$56,185
Monroe, LA$56,122
Johnstown, PA$56,077
Sumter, SC$56,052
Columbus, GA$56,046
Pascagoula, MS$55,925
Abilene, TX$55,925
Kingsport, TN$55,760
Albany, GA$55,760
Gulfport, MS$55,741
Alexandria, LA$55,532
Fort Smith, AR$55,374
El Paso, TX$55,203
Las Cruces, NM$54,917
Harlingen, TX$54,756
Pocatello, ID$54,746
Florence, AL$54,664
Brownsville, TX$54,651
Mcallen, TX$54,518
Dothan, AL$54,429
Columbus, MS$54,053
Altus, OK$53,757
Lawton, OK$53,637
Pierre, SD$53,409
What Skills Can Increase a CNC Machine Programmer I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Process Improvement (Mentioned in 1.66% Job Postings): Analyzing and improving existing processes and workflows to minimize process errors and streamline organizational efficiency.
Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 1.39% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
Quality Control (Mentioned in 0.87% Job Postings): Developing and implementing a set of procedures intended to maintain the quality of a product and reduce any risks or errors.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Process Improvement
1.66%
Continuous Improvement
1.39%
Quality Control
0.87%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a CNC Machine Programmer I's salary.
Decision Making: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Mechanical Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Manufacturing Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Decision Making
$71,000
12%
Mechanical Engineering
$69,732
10%
Manufacturing Engineering
$68,464
8%
Production Schedule
$67,831
7%
Project Management
$67,831
7%
Innovation
$67,197
6%
Get Latest Data
CNC Machine Programmer I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
CNC Machine Programmer I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $71,607.
While startup companies pay approximate $60,601.
CNC Machine Programmer I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$60,601
Growth Stage
51~500
$64,076
Established
501~5000
$69,163
Enterprise
5000+
$71,607
CNC Machine Programmer I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For CNC Machine Programmer I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 30% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and MFG Durable
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 15% above the average.
In contrast, CNC Machine Programmer positions in MFG Nondurable or Energy & Utilities typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view CNC Machine Programmer I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a CNC Machine Programmer I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense
$72,902
$35.0
15%
MFG Durable
$66,563
$32.0
5%
How Education impacts a CNC Machine Programmer I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many CNC Machine Programmer Is enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a CNC Machine Programmer I with a Associate's Degree is between
$58,976
and $63,644).
CNC Machine Programmer I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for CNC Machine Programmer I
No Diploma1.2%
High School66.3%
Associates19.9%
Bachelors11.4%
Masters1.2%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
1.2%
High School
66.3%
Associates
19.9%
Bachelors
11.4%
Masters
1.2%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
CNC Machine Programmer I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a CNC Machine Programmer I's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$56,080
Average$63,393/year
$69,043
$4,673
Average$5,283/month
$5,754
$1,078
Average$1,219/week
$1,328
$27
Average$30/hour
$33
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$69,043
$5,754
$1,328
$33
Average
$63,393
$5,283
$1,219
$30
25th Percentile
$56,080
$4,673
$1,078
$27
CNC Machine Programmer I Salary Growth & Career Path
For a CNC Machine Programmer I, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the CNC Machine Programmer II role.
This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to
$72,344 - a projected growth of
14%
over your current level.
Salaries of jobs related to CNC Machine Programmer I
Salaries for a CNC Machine Programmer I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $57,369 in 2023
to around $56,608 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of CNC Machine Programmer I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of CNC Machine Programmer I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$57,369
2024
$56,940
2025
$56,608
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$57,369
2024
$56,940
2025
$56,608
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for CNC Machine Programmer I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for CNC Machine Programmer I
Here are companies hiring for CNC Machine Programmer I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$126,909/per year
Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$121,776/per year
GE Renewable Energy
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$117,881/per year
Chint Electric International Co Ltd
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$112,827/per year
Constellation Energy Corp
Energy & Utilities
the United States
P
$110,892/per year
Plains GP Holdings LP
Energy & Utilities
the United States
W
$109,070/per year
Weatherford International PLC
Energy & Utilities
the United States
E
$108,905/per year
Enterprise Products Partners LP
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$108,399/per year
Constellation Technology Ventures
Energy & Utilities
the United States
P
$105,977/per year
Plains All American Pipeline LP
Energy & Utilities
the United States
A
$104,755/per year
Areva SA
Energy & Utilities
the United States
H
$103,814/per year
Hf Sinclair Corp
Energy & Utilities
the United States
F
$103,342/per year
Florida Power & Light Co
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$102,127/per year
Greymart
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$98,523/per year
Golden Alpha Inc
Energy & Utilities
the United States
A
$97,825/per year
Alaska Chadux Corp
Energy & Utilities
the United States
M
$92,856/per year
Major Energy
Energy & Utilities
the United States
W
$91,703/per year
Waste Recovery Systems
Energy & Utilities
the United States
A
$91,604/per year
ADS-TEC Energy PLC
Energy & Utilities
the United States
G
$88,905/per year
Great American Disposal Co
Energy & Utilities
the United States
W
$86,937/per year
Wieland Diversified
Energy & Utilities
the United States
M
$86,069/per year
Moser Energy Systems
Energy & Utilities
the United States
L
$85,884/per year
Longevity Partners
Energy & Utilities
the United States
P
$82,126/per year
PricingUtilities.com
Energy & Utilities
the United States
B
$78,189/per year
Blue Water Resources
Energy & Utilities
the United States
C
$76,117/per year
Carbon Rivers LLC
Energy & Utilities
the United States
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FAQ about CNC Machine Programmer I
1. Where can a CNC Machine Programmer I earn the most?
A CNC Machine Programmer I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a CNC Machine Programmer I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a CNC Machine Programmer I is $79,958.
2. What is the highest pay for CNC Machine Programmer I?
The highest pay for CNC Machine Programmer I is $74,187.
3. What is the lowest pay for CNC Machine Programmer I?
The lowest pay for CNC Machine Programmer I is $49,422.
4. What are the responsibilities of CNC Machine Programmer I?
Programs and sets up CNC milling, lathe, or other machinery according to blueprint specifications. Reads and interprets technical blueprints and design models and inputs the product design into the computer modeling software. Adjusts machine settings to the desired product specifications, and troubleshoots and maintains the machine. Utilizes G or M code and CAM software (MasterCAM, CAMWorks, or others). Tests the accuracy of settings and programs. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for CNC Machine Programmer I?
The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for CNC Machine Programmer I roles,
with salaries approximately 15% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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