Operate computer-controlled tools, machines, or robots to machine or process parts, tools, or other work pieces made of metal, plastic, wood, stone, or other materials. May also set up and maintain equipment.
Explore this career interactively, with full detail →
Licensing, certifications and working conditions
State licensing. CareerOneStop's licensing data records no state license for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators, which usually means it is not a licensed occupation. Requirements can still vary by employer and state.
Certifications. CareerOneStop directly links 1 professional certification to Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators. 1 of them are in CareerOneStop's "Core" group, for example: Machining Level I - CNC Milling: Programming Setup & Operations. Certifications are voluntary credentials offered by the organizations named; listing one is not an endorsement.
Working conditions. On average, workers stand or walk about 6.9 hours and sit about 1.3 hours per day. The typical heaviest weight lifted or carried is about 35.0 pounds. For 62.2% of workers the job requires medium strength. Shares of workers who interact with the general public (4.9%), have a consistently fast work pace (30.5%), cannot pause their work (57.6%), and are exposed to the outdoors (1.0%). From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Requirements Survey (2023 estimates); figures describe the occupation on average.
Sources: CareerOneStop (licenses and certifications), part of the CareerOneStop suite of web products, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (working conditions, wages). MajorPays has reorganized this information; these agencies have not approved or endorsed it. See it interactively, with state-by-state detail →
More data on this career
Where the jobs are, and what they pay by industry. Nationwide, the industries that employ the most computer numerically controlled tool operators are Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (19% of the jobs counted, median pay $50,510), Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (10% of the jobs counted, median pay $49,610), Machinery Manufacturing (10% of the jobs counted, median pay $53,830), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (8% of the jobs counted, median pay $61,580) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). Among large industries, the highest median pay is in Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing ($61,580), Machinery Manufacturing ($53,830), Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing ($52,270). Pay differs by industry for many reasons, including the mix of jobs and where employers are located.
Injury and illness rates. For the broader group "Other production occupations", which includes this career (BLS did not publish enough cases for this exact occupation), employers reported 122.1 nonfatal injury and illness cases with days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers, compared with 94.6 for all U.S. workers; the median case kept the worker away 7 days (all workers: 8) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023-2024). Rates reflect the work setting as well as the occupation.
Union membership. In the broad group "Production", which includes this career, 11.9% of wage and salary workers belong to a union (all U.S. workers: 10.0%); median weekly pay is $1,161 for union members and $945 for workers not in a union (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2025). This is a group figure, not specific to computer numerically controlled tool operators.
Employer benefits. In the broad group "Production", which includes this career, 75% of civilian workers had access to an employer retirement plan, 80% had access to employer medical care benefits, and 77% had paid sick leave, 90% paid vacation and 92% paid holidays (all civilian workers: 75%, 74%, 83%, 77% and 79%) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey, March 2026). This is a group figure, not specific to computer numerically controlled tool operators, and having access to a benefit does not mean every worker uses it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not endorsed this presentation. Employers spent about $37.63 per hour worked on total compensation for the occupational group "Production" in June 2026 ($25.21 in wages and salaries and $12.42 in benefits, 33.0% of the total; all civilian workers: $49.46, with 31.6% in benefits) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation).
Work environment. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, the conditions most often placed at the two highest levels for computer numerically controlled tool operators are: wear common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets (100%), importance of being exact or accurate (98%), spend time standing (86%), time pressure (86%), exposed to sounds, noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable (82%), exposed to contaminants (78%). Each percentage is the share of respondents choosing the top two levels for that condition (for example 'most of the time' or 'continually'), so it describes how common the condition is in the job, not how a particular workplace is (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).
Typical preparation. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, for related work experience, the most common answer (29% of 38 respondents) was "none"; for on-site or in-plant training, the most common answer (31% of 38 respondents) was "over 6 months, up to and including 1 year". These are what workers report is needed to do the job; employers' requirements and individual paths vary (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).
Related careers. O*NET lists these occupations as similar to computer numerically controlled tool operators in the work done and the skills used: Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, Machinists, Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers, Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).
Pay by state. See what computer numerically controlled tool operators earn in each state, with the pay range and number of jobs: Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators salary by state (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
Compare computer numerically controlled tool operators with other careers (pay, growth, openings and education side by side).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 PUMS (MajorPays' own estimates from the survey; Census is credited as the source of the original data and has not endorsed them); BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses; BLS Current Population Survey; BLS National Compensation Survey (employee benefits); HRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (LCA disclosure data, FY2025). MajorPays has selected and reorganized these figures; these agencies have not approved or endorsed them. See it interactively →
Machine Shop Technology/Assistant
CIP 48.0503