Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$30.11/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 44.1%
- Live roles
- 641
Plant Manager
$136,075
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 44.9%
- Live roles
- 445
Highest-paying jobs
CNC Machinist
Sr. Principal CNC Programmer
CNC Machinist Trainer
CNC Machinist/Programmer
CNC Machinist
Senior CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Programmer
Senior CNC Programmer & Machinist, 5-Axis
Lead CNC Machinist (PM Shift)
CNC Mill-Turn Machinist
Senior Composite CNC Programmer/Machinist
Highest-paying jobs
Plant Manager (Arizona)
Senior Manager Engineering – Meta Factory
Senior Manager, Software Development – Meta Factory
Factory Manager
Staff Product Manager, AI Factory
Senior Manager, Software Engineering, Plant Control
Manager, ML Solutions Architecture - Token Factory
Senior Engineering Manager, Factory Core
Manager Subsystem Factory Test Design Section 3
Sr. Manager - Factory Automation
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
SpaceX
|
$52,000 | 15 |
Caterpillar
|
$67,246 | 12 |
| GV GE Vernova | $75,920 | 11 |
Curtiss-Wright
|
$64,490 | 11 |
Regal Rexnord
|
$59,280 | 10 |
Mitsubishi Chemical Group
|
$67,600 | 9 |
Leidos
|
$81,213 | 8 |
Thorlabs
|
$67,080 | 8 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| JC J.Crew | $45,604 | 63 |
Heidelberg Materials
|
$128,273 | 10 |
Niagara Bottling
|
$143,397 | 5 |
Kraft Heinz
|
$184,700 | 4 |
|
Nebius
|
$202,500 | 3 |
Greif
|
$161,200 | 3 |
| PG Procter & Gamble | $137,650 | 3 |
TreeHouse Foods
|
$127,448 | 3 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $98,186 | 4 |
| Los Angeles | $84,240 | 4 |
| New York | $67,600 | 5 |
Plant Manager salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $159,860 | 5 |
| New York | $130,361 | 3 |
| Chicago | $102,150 | 3 |
CNC Operator vs Plant Manager: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $30.11/hr per year (typically $25.10/hr–$35.68/hr), versus $136,075 for Plant Manager ($112,891–$172,788). That puts Plant Manager about 117% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so CNC Operator and Plant Manager are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.