Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators Salary
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in Knoxville, TN make a median of $49,040 a year, or about $23.58 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $52,976 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month, about 41.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $49K actually covers in Knoxville, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). 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 Knoxville
Computer numerically controlled tool operators pay in Knoxville tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,471/month, which is 42.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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 Knoxville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $59K | $64K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $54K | $56K |
| Chattanooga | $48K | $52K |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $49K | $56K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level computer numerically controlled tool operators (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $24K 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 Knoxville numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer numerically controlled tool operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Knoxville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 42.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Knoxville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer numerically controlled tool operators typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,771/month. At HUD’s $1,471/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Knoxville?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average for computer numerically controlled tool operators?
Knoxville pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer numerically controlled tool operators make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $49,040 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,850, and experienced computer numerically controlled tool operators can clear $63,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,454/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 42.6% 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 Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (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 $52,976 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.