Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist Degrees (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist maps to BLS occupations averaging about $143,798, with roughly 961,420 workers nationwide in those roles. Median in-state published tuition is about $4,267; common paths include Computer Hardware Engineers and Computer Systems Analysts.
Key Statistics
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist: what the data shows
Common questions about computer numerically controlled (cnc) machinist technology/cnc machinist degrees, answered from IPEDS, College Scorecard, BLS OEWS, and O*NET in this repository—not program marketing copy.
What is a computer numerically controlled (cnc) machinist technology/cnc machinist degree?
A Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist program is classified under NCES CIP 48.0510 in the Precision Metal Working field family (48.05).
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, such as lathes, mills, precision measuring tools, and related attachments and accessories, to perform machining functions, such as cutting, drilling, shaping, and finishing products and component parts. Includes instruction in CNC terminology, setup, programming, operations, and troubleshooting; blueprint reading; machining; lathe and mill operations; technical mathematics; computer literacy; CAD/CAM systems; shop and safety practices; equipment capabilities; and regulations and laws
Types of computer numerically controlled (cnc) machinist technology/cnc machinist degrees and related programs
Other NCES program codes in the 48.05 family with pages on EDsmart Data:
- Ironworking/Ironworker (CIP 48.0509)
- Machine Shop Technology/Assistant (CIP 48.0503)
- Machine Tool Technology/Machinist (CIP 48.0501)
- Metal Fabricator (CIP 48.0511)
- Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking (CIP 48.0506)
- Tool and Die Technology/Technician (CIP 48.0507)
- Welding (CIP 48.0508)
How long does it take to get a computer numerically controlled (cnc) machinist technology/cnc machinist degree?
Award levels reported to IPEDS for CIP 48.0510 in our file:
- 264 Associate (100.0% of IPEDS total)—about two years of full-time study
Time to completion depends on enrollment intensity and transfer credits; figures above describe credential type, not calendar time for every student.
What degree do you need?
For Computer Hardware Engineers (top mapped occupation), O*NET incumbent surveys in our career profile report these education credentials most often: Some college (29%), High School or Equivalent (27%), Bachelors Degree (22%).
O*NET education distributions describe incumbent workers, not minimum legal or employer requirements.
What jobs can you get with a computer numerically controlled (cnc) machinist technology/cnc machinist degree?
Our degree→occupation mapping links Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist to the BLS roles below. Employment is U.S. OEWS; median wage is national May 2024 where published in our extract.
| Occupation | U.S. employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineers | 75,710 | $155,020 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 497,800 | $103,790 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | 93,940 | $127,590 |
| Information Security Analysts | 179,430 | $124,910 |
| Budget Analysts | 47,170 | $87,930 |
| Credit Analysts | 67,370 | $80,970 |
See Careers & Jobs for mean wages and industry context.
Is a computer numerically controlled (cnc) machinist technology/cnc machinist degree worth it?
Among schools reporting in our Scorecard extract, median published in-state tuition is $4,267 and median net price is $8,384.
We do not score "worth" on opinion—compare debt, earnings, wages for mapped occupations, and completion data above against your cost and career target.
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$4,267 Median In-State Public
$16,657 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist majors are, on average, $4,267 for in-state public colleges, and $16,657 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
100,000 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | 58,267 |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Community College | IN | 58,267 |
| 3 | Lone Star College System | TX | 45,188 |
| 4 | Lone Star College System | TX | 45,188 |
| 5 | Brigham Young University-Idaho | ID | 44,397 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barstow Community College | CA | $1,104 |
| 2 | Barstow Community College | CA | $1,104 |
| 3 | Taft College | CA | $1,108 |
| 4 | Taft College | CA | $1,108 |
| 5 | Antelope Valley Community College District | CA | $1,124 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist programs.
Top 5 Lowest Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Mexico State University-Grants | NM | $68 |
| 2 | New Mexico State University-Grants | NM | $68 |
| 3 | Fort Peck Community College | MT | $400 |
| 4 | College of the Sequoias | CA | $480 |
| 5 | College of the Sequoias | CA | $480 |
Schools with the lowest average net price for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist programs.
Graduation Rates
Graduation rate data is not available for this degree program.
Graduation/completion rates for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist programs across institutions.
Related specializations
Other NCES program codes in the 48.05 CIP family with dedicated pages on EDsmart Data.
- Ironworking/Ironworker CIP 48.0509
- Machine Shop Technology/Assistant CIP 48.0503
- Machine Tool Technology/Machinist CIP 48.0501
- Metal Fabricator CIP 48.0511
- Sheet Metal Technology/Sheetworking CIP 48.0506
- Tool and Die Technology/Technician CIP 48.0507
- Welding CIP 48.0508
Degree Levels (IPEDS)
Completions reported to IPEDS for CIP 48.0510 in the survey year used in our extract (264 total across levels below).
- 264 Associate (100.0% of IPEDS total)
Source: IPEDS Completions (c2024_a), summed by award level for this CIP.
Careers & Jobs
Occupations linked to this major in our degree→career mapping, with wages and employment from processed BLS career profiles in this repo.
Across these BLS occupations, employment-weighted mean pay is about $143,798. Figures are national OEWS estimates for the occupation—not earnings of Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist graduates alone.
Related occupations (BLS OEWS)
| Occupation | Mean annual wage | U.S. employment |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Hardware Engineers | $188,333 | 75,710 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $136,553 | 497,800 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $162,232 | 93,940 |
| Information Security Analysts | $156,788 | 179,430 |
| Budget Analysts | $110,155 | 47,170 |
| Credit Analysts | $110,532 | 67,370 |
Open each occupation for full career profile charts and industry breakdowns on EDsmart Data.
Employment
Wages and industry mix below use BLS OEWS data for occupations linked to this major in our mapping—not a graduate earnings survey.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$143,798 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist majors is $143,798.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist majors.
Occupations by Share
961,420 2023 Workforce
The number of Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist by share of the total number of graduates.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist.
Age distribution for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
2,174 Total Degrees Awarded
1,971 Male (90.66%)
203 Female (9.34%)
Gender distribution of Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
1,378 White (63.39%)
355 Hispanic or Latino (16.33%)
163 Black or African American (7.50%)
87 Two or More Races (4.00%)
78 Asian (3.59%)
Racial and ethnic distribution of Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist majors.
About
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools, such as lathes, mills, precision measuring tools, and related attachments and accessories, to perform machining functions, such as cutting, drilling, shaping, and finishing products and component parts. Includes instruction in CNC terminology, setup, programming, operations, and troubleshooting; blueprint reading; machining; lathe and mill operations; technical mathematics; computer literacy; CAD/CAM systems; shop and safety practices; equipment capabilities; and regulations and laws
In 2023, 100,000 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist.
CIP Code
48.0510 - Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist
What the data shows
Men earned 9.3% of 2,174 Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist completions in the IPEDS file used here.
Mapped BLS occupations show employment-weighted mean pay of about $143,798. The largest mapped role by headcount is Computer Hardware Engineers (75,710 U.S. jobs in OEWS).
Published tuition medians in College Scorecard land at $4,267 in-state at public colleges and $16,657 at private institutions for programs in this field.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.