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Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Develop programs to control machining or processing of materials by automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems. May also set up, operate, or maintain equipment.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $68,120 Median per year · $32.75/hr Most earn $47,530–$100,320

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Order tooling for jobs.
  • Write programs in the language of a machine's controller and store programs on media, such as punch tapes, magnetic tapes, or disks.
  • Modify existing programs to enhance efficiency.
  • Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on machines.
  • Write instruction sheets and cutter lists for a machine's controller to guide setup and encode numerical control tapes.
  • Observe machines on trial runs or conduct computer simulations to ensure that programs and machinery will function properly and produce items that meet specifications.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 2,700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Machine shops16.6%
  • Fabricated metal product manufacturing13.7%
  • Machinery manufacturing9.3%
  • Metalworking machinery manufacturing8.5%
  • Aerospace product and parts manufacturing7.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

CNC Tool Programmer is usually not an entry-level job. Most people spend about 2 to 4 years in related shop work first, often starting as a CNC Tool Operator, before writing machine programs on their own. A certificate or apprenticeship is the typical training.

  1. High school diploma with shop, math, and computer classes

    4 years

    Strong math and hands-on shop skills give you a foundation for reading blueprints and understanding how machines cut metal or plastic.

  2. Machining certificate or apprenticeship

    1-2 years

    Training in machine tools, measuring, and safety teaches you how parts are made, which you need before programming the machines that make them.

  3. CNC Tool Operator

    1-2 years

    You set up, run, and check CNC machines and learn how programs behave on real equipment, which builds the knowledge needed to write programs.

  4. CNC Tool Programmer

    Ongoing

    You develop the programs that tell automatic machines how to shape materials, usually after about 2 to 4 years of total related experience.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead CNC Programmer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on more complex parts, review other programmers' work, and help train new team members.

  2. Manufacturing Process Engineer

    5+ years of experience first

    You look at the whole production process to make it faster and more accurate; employers often prefer a engineering or technology degree for this move.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and geometry classesTrigonometry and geometry are used every day to calculate tool paths and part dimensions.
  • Enroll in shop, drafting, or manufacturing classesHands-on experience with machines and reading technical drawings gives you a head start on CNC work.
  • Join a robotics or engineering clubBuilding and programming machines as a team develops problem-solving and teamwork skills.
  • Ask about career and technical education (CTE) programsMany high schools offer machining or manufacturing pathways that may include industry certifications.
  • Get a summer or part-time job at a workshop or factoryEven basic work in a shop helps you learn safety, tools, and how production runs.

In college

  • Take CNC, CAD, and CAM coursesClasses in computer-aided design and machining give you the programming skills employers look for.
  • Pursue a machining or manufacturing certificate or associate degreeFormal training is the typical path for this career and can make your applications stronger.
  • Apply for a machining internship or co-opWorking in a real shop lets you practice programming and setup while you are still studying.
  • Join a student engineering or skills clubClubs such as SkillsUSA-type groups, where available at your school, build teamwork and can lead to competitions.
  • Work a campus job in a lab or makerspaceOperating 3D printers, laser cutters, or small machines builds hands-on experience with digital fabrication.

Tips for getting started

  • Learn basic CAD and CAM software, since most CNC programming is done with these tools and many schools and community programs offer introductory courses.
  • Look for machining or manufacturing apprenticeships and ask shops whether they hire first-year helpers, so you can learn on real machines early.
  • Keep a simple portfolio of parts you have machined or programmed, with photos and notes, to show future employers what you can do.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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