Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$75,440
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 34%
- Live roles
- 147
Plant Manager
$175,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 33.3%
- Live roles
- 63
Highest-paying jobs
CNC Operator
CNC Programmer & Machinist (3- Axis & 5-Axis Okuma)
Senior CNC Programmer & Machinist, 5-Axis
CNC Machine Programmer
CNC Machinist
Senior CNC Machinist
Senior Composite CNC Programmer
CNC Programmer (Mill, Lathe & Swiss)
CNC Programmer, NX CAM (Starlink) - Level 4/5
CNC Programmer (Starship Components) - Level 4/5 (2nd Shift)
Highest-paying jobs
Plant Manager
Staff Product Manager, AI Factory
Senior Engineering Manager, Factory Core
Manager, Plant Control Engineering
Technical Account Manager - Token Factory
Plant Operations Manager (Jet Fuel Plant)
Manufacturing Plant Manager
Lead Project Manager, Factory Development
Sr Manager, Data Factory Operation
Construction Manager – Owner's Representative (cGMP Plant Expansion)
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
SpaceX
|
$54,080 | 13 |
|
Rennscot MFG
|
$84,240 | 3 |
|
Mach Industries
|
$74,880 | 3 |
Thorlabs
|
$68,640 | 3 |
Qualdoc
|
$56,160 | 3 |
|
Inversion
|
$108,160 | 2 |
|
General Matter
|
$93,600 | 2 |
Burnout Brands
|
$79,040 | 2 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| NE New Era Technology | $135,000 | 3 |
|
Fluidstack
|
$353,000 | 1 |
|
Domino Data Lab
|
$262,500 | 1 |
|
Hadrian Automation
|
$250,000 | 1 |
|
Helion
|
$220,000 | 1 |
|
Nebius
|
$202,500 | 1 |
|
Twelve
|
$198,000 | 1 |
|
Faraday Future
|
$190,000 | 1 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $83,200 | 5 |
CNC Operator vs Plant Manager: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $75,440 per year (typically $54,600–$91,780), versus $175,000 for Plant Manager ($135,000–$200,250). That puts Plant Manager about 132% 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.