Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$39.50/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 44.9%
- Live roles
- 167
Process Engineer
$138,750
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 31.9%
- Live roles
- 423
Highest-paying jobs
CNC Machinist
CNC Machinist/Programmer
CNC Machinist
Senior CNC Programmer & Machinist, 5-Axis
Lead CNC Machinist (PM Shift)
CNC Mill-Turn Machinist
Senior Composite CNC Programmer/Machinist
Senior CNC Programmer
CNC Programmer (Mill, Lathe & Swiss)
Senior CNC Programmer
Highest-paying jobs
Senior Chemical Process Engineer
Principal Process Engineer, Fuel Cycle
Senior / Principal Silicon Photonic Packaging & Process Engineer
Senior Process Engineer (Power Generation / Gas-to-Power)
Process Engineer (New Grad December 2026)
Process Engineer (New Grad Summer 2027)
Senior Additive Manufacturing Process Engineer
Senior Manufacturing Process Engineer
Staff Engineer, Process Development and Manufacturing
Materials & Process Engineer
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
SpaceX
|
$52,000 | 15 |
Thorlabs
|
$67,080 | 8 |
Rocket Lab Corporation
|
$88,400 | 4 |
Qualdoc
|
$48,880 | 4 |
|
Anduril Industries
|
$123,001 | 3 |
|
Rennscot MFG
|
$84,240 | 3 |
Shively Diversified Management Services
|
$65,520 | 3 |
| VT Voyager Technologies, Inc. | $55,120 | 3 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Anduril Industries
|
$150,000 | 14 |
Mariana Minerals
|
$147,500 | 6 |
| OK Oklo | $130,000 | 6 |
|
SpaceX
|
$115,000 | 5 |
|
Freeform
|
$209,800 | 4 |
Antora Energy
|
$159,750 | 4 |
| SI Sila | $158,000 | 4 |
Blue Current
|
$135,800 | 4 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $84,240 | 4 |
Process Engineer salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $170,000 | 5 |
| Los Angeles | $167,500 | 7 |
| New York | $135,000 | 5 |
CNC Operator vs Process Engineer: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $39.50/hr per year (typically $25.00/hr–$43.50/hr), versus $138,750 for Process Engineer ($113,750–$167,500). That puts Process Engineer about 69% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so CNC Operator and Process Engineer 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.