CNC Milling Machinist Salary in the United States

How much does a CNC Milling Machinist make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a CNC Milling Machinist in the United States is $66,658 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, a CNC Milling Machinist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,575
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,383 to $74,466
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,670
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View as table View as graph 25% $60,383 10% $54,670 90% $81,575 75% $74,466 $66,658 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

CNC Milling Machinist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $74,466 $6,206 $1,432 $36
Average $66,658 $5,555 $1,282 $32
25th Percentile $60,383 $5,032 $1,161 $29
Check out CNC Milling Machinist Job Openings in the United States
CNC Machinist

Elyria Plastic Products - Elyria, OH

CNC Machinist

Hi-Tek Manufacturing Inc - Mason, OH

CNC Machinist

FC Industries Inc - Northridge, OH

CNC Machinist Day and Night Shift

FC Industries Inc - Northridge, OH

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Key Factors That Influence CNC Milling Machinist Salaries

A CNC Milling Machinist'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 Milling Machinist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a CNC Milling Machinist'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $46,209
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $58,918
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $66,084
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $73,725
  • Expert (over 8 years): $66,028
Levels Salary
Machinist... Level CNC Milling Machinist$46,209
Machinist... Level CNC Milling Machinist$58,918
CNC Milli... Level CNC Milling Machinist$66,084
Machinist... Level CNC Milling Machinist$73,725
Machine S... Level CNC Milling Machinist$66,028
$46,209 0 yr
$58,918 < 2 yrs
$66,084 2-4 yrs
$73,725 5-8 yrs
$66,028 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do CNC Milling Machinist 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 Milling Machinists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $73,804.
  • California: $73,524.
  • Massachusetts: $72,544.

Top Paying Cities for CNC Milling Machinists

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: $84,076
  • San Francisco: $83,156
  • Oakland: $81,403

What Skills Can Increase a CNC Milling Machinist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.39% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Machine Controls (Mentioned in 2.07% Job Postings): Machine Control is the use of positioning tools and a display to provide a construction machinery operator with a reference between the position of the bucket or blade and the target grade.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.55% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.39%
Machine Controls 2.07%
Microsoft Office 1.55%
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 Milling Machinist's salary.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement
$72,658
9%
Microsoft Office
$71,324
7%
Analysis
$71,324
7%
Scheduling
$71,324
7%
Leadership
$70,658
6%
Lean Manufacturing
$69,991
5%
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CNC Milling Machinist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CNC Milling Machinist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 92% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 44% above the average. In contrast, CNC Milling Machinist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CNC Milling Machinist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CNC Milling Machinist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$95,988$46.044%
Pharmaceuticals$86,656$42.030%
Biotechnology$81,323$39.022%
Healthcare$81,323$39.022%
Energy & Utilities$75,991$37.014%

How Education impacts a CNC Milling Machinist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many CNC Milling Machinists enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Milling Machinist with a No Diploma is between $63,085 and $67,276).

CNC Milling Machinist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for CNC Milling Machinist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 70.4%
Associates 21.6%
Bachelors 6.4%
Masters 0.8%
Doctorate 0.0%
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CNC Milling Machinist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CNC Milling Machinist'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.

Last Updated on July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for CNC Milling Machinist

Salaries for a CNC Milling Machinist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $47,733 in 2023 to around $47,279 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of CNC Milling Machinist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of CNC Milling Machinist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$47,733
2024
$47,596
2025
$47,279
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $47,733
2024 $47,596
2025 $47,279
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for CNC Milling Machinist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for CNC Milling Machinist

Here are companies hiring for CNC Milling Machinist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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