Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators Salary
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA make a median of $58,870 a year, or about $28.3 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $64,198 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,318/month, about 34.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $59K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer numerically controlled tool operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Des Moines-West Des Moines sits well above the national pay line for computer numerically controlled tool operators, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $51K. Rent runs $1,318/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer numerically controlled tool operators in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $52K | $59K |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $49K | $55K |
| Dubuque | $52K | $60K |
| Cedar Rapids | $57K | $64K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level computer numerically controlled tool operators (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $108K | +113% | 2,270 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +22% | 2,500 |
| North Dakota | $60K | +19% | 250 |
| Connecticut | $60K | +18% | 2,740 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | +18% | 1,770 |
| Maine | $60K | +18% | 440 |
| Vermont | $58K | +13% | 1,190 |
| Rhode Island | $57K | +13% | 540 |
| Minnesota | $57K | +12% | 4,290 |
| Oregon | $57K | +12% | 2,920 |
| California | $57K | +11% | 21,680 |
| Colorado | $55K | +9% | 1,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $55K | +8% | 7,840 |
| Wyoming | $54K | +7% | 60 |
| New Jersey | $54K | +7% | 1,770 |
| Idaho | $53K | +5% | 480 |
| New York | $53K | +5% | 5,530 |
| Wisconsin | $53K | +4% | 8,330 |
| Alabama | $52K | +3% | 3,120 |
| Iowa | $52K | +3% | 4,750 |
| Montana | $52K | +2% | 240 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +2% | 2,460 |
| Missouri | $51K | +1% | 1,500 |
| South Dakota | $51K | +0% | 1,420 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -0% | 3,680 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -1% | 2,180 |
| Delaware | $50K | -1% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -1% | 1,980 |
| Louisiana | $50K | -2% | 670 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -2% | 160 |
| Virginia | $50K | -2% | 1,890 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -3% | 830 |
| Kentucky | $49K | -3% | 1,740 |
| Ohio | $49K | -3% | 21,250 |
| Arizona | $49K | -3% | 1,800 |
| Indiana | $49K | -4% | 9,690 |
| Texas | $48K | -4% | 13,190 |
| Illinois | $48K | -4% | 8,170 |
| Kansas | $48K | -5% | 2,540 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -6% | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $48K | -6% | 2,200 |
| Michigan | $47K | -7% | 7,330 |
| Maryland | $47K | -8% | 1,800 |
| Nevada | $47K | -8% | 400 |
| Florida | $46K | -9% | 4,040 |
| Utah | $45K | -11% | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $45K | -11% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $40K | -22% | 1,290 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer numerically controlled tool operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a computer numerically controlled tool operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 34.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer numerically controlled tool operators typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,370/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $59K here vs. $51K nationally.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for computer numerically controlled tool operators?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer numerically controlled tool operators make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $58,870 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,500, and experienced computer numerically controlled tool operators can clear $66,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,868/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 34.1% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer numerically controlled tool operators salary is worth about $64,198 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.