CNC Set Up Machinist Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a CNC Set Up Machinist in the United States is $73,347 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,860
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $66,833 to $80,421
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $60,901
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View as table View as graph 25% $66,833 10% $60,901 90% $86,860 75% $80,421 $73,347 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

CNC Set Up Machinist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $80,421 $6,702 $1,547 $39
Average $73,347 $6,112 $1,411 $35
25th Percentile $66,833 $5,569 $1,285 $32
Check out CNC Set Up Machinist Job Openings in the United States
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Marmon - Avon Lake, OH

CNC set up operator

Inova - Mentor, OH

CNC Set

Area Temps - North Royalton, OH

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Key Factors That Influence CNC Set Up Machinist Salaries

A CNC Set Up 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 Do CNC Set Up 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 Set Up Machinists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $81,210.
  • California: $80,902.
  • Massachusetts: $79,824.

Top Paying Cities for CNC Set Up 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: $92,513
  • San Francisco: $91,500
  • Oakland: $89,572

What Skills Can Increase a CNC Set Up Machinist'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 Set Up Machinist's salary.
  • Word Processing: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Production Schedule: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Word Processing
$76,281
4%
Project Management
$75,548
3%
Production Schedule
$75,548
3%
Technical Support
$75,548
3%
Decision Making
$75,548
3%
Initiative
$74,814
2%
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CNC Set Up Machinist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For CNC Set Up Machinist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and MFG Durable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, CNC Set Up Machinist positions in Energy & Utilities or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view CNC Set Up Machinist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a CNC Set Up Machinist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$88,017$42.020%
MFG Durable$80,682$39.010%

How Education impacts a CNC Set Up Machinist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many CNC Set Up Machinists 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 Set Up Machinist with a Associate's Degree is between $73,824 and $79,150).

CNC Set Up Machinist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for CNC Set Up Machinist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.4%
High School 61.0%
Associates 22.0%
Bachelors 13.4%
Masters 1.2%
Doctorate 0.0%
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CNC Set Up Machinist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a CNC Set Up 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 Set Up Machinist

Salaries for a CNC Set Up Machinist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $67,073 in 2023 to around $67,609 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of CNC Set Up Machinist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of CNC Set Up Machinist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$67,073
2024
$67,805
2025
$67,609
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $67,073
2024 $67,805
2025 $67,609
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for CNC Set Up Machinist

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

Here are companies hiring for CNC Set Up 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.)

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