Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators Salary
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in California make a median of $56,510 a year, or about $27.17 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $53,241 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 67% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in California?
About computer numerically controlled tool operators
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for computer numerically controlled tool operators, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 64.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level computer numerically controlled tool operators (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators salary by metro in California
20 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $60K | +6% | 200 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $60K | +6% | 110 |
| Vallejo | $60K | +6% | 170 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $60K | +6% | 2,050 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $60K | +5% | 1,930 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $59K | +5% | 70 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $59K | +4% | 240 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $59K | +4% | 160 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $57K | +1% | 620 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $57K | +1% | 110 |
| Visalia | $57K | +0% | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $55K | -3% | 10,450 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $55K | -3% | 1,960 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $53K | -7% | 620 |
| Chico | $52K | -8% | 40 |
| Redding | $50K | -11% | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $49K | -12% | 1,990 |
| Fresno | $49K | -13% | 250 |
| Merced | $49K | -13% | 40 |
| Modesto | $49K | -13% | 140 |
Showing 1–10 of 20 metros
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer numerically controlled tool operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 64.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer numerically controlled tool operators in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer numerically controlled tool operators typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,380/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 104% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer numerically controlled tool operator a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $57K here vs. $51K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for computer numerically controlled tool operators?
California pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer numerically controlled tool operators make in California?
The median is $56,510 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,670, and experienced computer numerically controlled tool operators can clear $76,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,814/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 64.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a computer numerically controlled tool operators salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer numerically controlled tool operators salary is worth about $53,241 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer numerically controlled tool operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.