Cnc Plasma Operator Salary in the United States

How much does a Cnc Plasma Operator make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Cnc Plasma Operator in the United States is $60,734 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Cnc Plasma Operator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,334
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,506 to $67,329
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,836
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View as table View as graph 25% $54,506 10% $48,836 90% $73,334 75% $67,329 $60,734 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Cnc Plasma Operator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $67,329 $5,611 $1,295 $32
Average $60,734 $5,061 $1,168 $29
25th Percentile $54,506 $4,542 $1,048 $26
Check out Cnc Plasma Operator Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Cnc Plasma Operator Salaries

A Cnc Plasma Operator'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 Plasma Operator 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 Plasma Operators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $67,244.
  • California: $66,989.
  • Massachusetts: $66,096.

Top Paying Cities for Cnc Plasma Operators

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: $76,603
  • San Francisco: $75,764
  • Oakland: $74,168

What Skills Can Increase a Cnc Plasma Operator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Troubleshooting (Mentioned in 1.78% Job Postings): Troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination—eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state. In general, troubleshooting is the identification or diagnosis of "trouble" in the management flow of a system caused by a failure of some kind. The problem is initially described as symptoms of malfunction, and troubleshooting is the process of determining and remedying the causes of these symptoms. A system can be described in terms of its expected, desired or intended behavior (usually, for artificial systems, its purpose). Events or inputs to the system are expected to generate specific results or outputs. (For example, selecting the "print" option from various computer applications is intended to result in a hardcopy emerging from some specific device). Any unexpected or undesirable behavior is a symptom. Troubleshooting is the process of isolating the specific cause or causes of the symptom. Frequently the symptom is a failure of the product or process to produce any results. (Nothing was printed, for example). Corrective action can then be taken to prevent further failures of a similar kind.
  • Preventative Maintenance (Mentioned in 1.3% Job Postings): Developing and implementing maintenance strategies to increase equipment life expectancy and avoid unplanned downtime.
  • Preventive Maintenance (Mentioned in 0.98% Job Postings): Preventive maintenance is the act of performing regularly scheduled maintenance activities to help prevent unexpected failures in the future. Put simply, it's about fixing things before they break.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Troubleshooting 1.78%
Preventative Maintenance 1.3%
Preventive Maintenance 0.98%
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 Plasma Operator's salary.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Lean: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Initiative
 $63,163
4%
Written Communication
 $62,556
3%
Lean
 $61,948
2%
Visual Inspection
 $61,341
1%
CAD
 $61,341
1%
Problem Solving
 $61,341
1%
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Cnc Plasma Operator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Cnc Plasma Operator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Cnc Plasma Operator positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Cnc Plasma Operator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Cnc Plasma Operator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$85,027$41.040%
Aerospace & Defense$78,954$38.030%
Energy & Utilities$69,844$34.015%

How Education impacts a Cnc Plasma Operator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Cnc Plasma Operators 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 Plasma Operator with a Associate's Degree is between $59,874 and $64,349).

Cnc Plasma Operator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Cnc Plasma Operator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 76.1%
Associates 19.3%
Bachelors 2.3%
Masters 1.1%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Cnc Plasma Operator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Cnc Plasma Operator'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
$54,506
Average $60,734/year
$67,329
$4,542
Average $5,061/month
$5,611
$1,048
Average $1,168/week
$1,295
$26
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $67,329 $5,611 $1,295 $32
Average $60,734 $5,061 $1,168 $29
25th Percentile $54,506 $4,542 $1,048 $26

Salaries of jobs related to Cnc Plasma Operator

Salary Trends for Cnc Plasma Operator

Salaries for a Cnc Plasma Operator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $46,318 in 2023 to around $45,877 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Cnc Plasma Operator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Cnc Plasma Operator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$46,318
2024
$46,185
2025
$45,877
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $46,318
2024 $46,185
2025 $45,877
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Cnc Plasma Operator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Cnc Plasma Operator

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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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