Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators Salary
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA make a median of $59,280 a year, or about $28.5 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $53,940 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month, about 108.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $59K actually covers in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Cruz-Watsonville’s Regional Price Parity (109.9). 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
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What this looks like in Santa Cruz-Watsonville
Santa Cruz-Watsonville sits well above the national pay line for computer numerically controlled tool operators, local pay runs about 17% 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 $4,214/month, which is 105.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 109.9), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer numerically controlled tool operators in metros near Santa Cruz-Watsonville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $55K | $48K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $60K | $54K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $49K | $46K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $55K | $49K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level computer numerically controlled tool operators (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $40K 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a computer numerically controlled tool operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 105.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $4,214/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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer numerically controlled tool operators typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,753/month. At HUD’s $4,214/month FMR, rent would take 153% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $59K here vs. $51K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 10% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Santa Cruz-Watsonville compare to the national average for computer numerically controlled tool operators?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 109.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do computer numerically controlled tool operators make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $59,280 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,520, and experienced computer numerically controlled tool operators can clear $79,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,985/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 105.7% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a Regional Price Parity of 109.9 (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 $53,940 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.