Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$74,880
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 33.1%
- Live roles
- 145
Production Manager
$102,500
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 38.3%
- Live roles
- 308
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
Production Manager
Senior Engineering Manager, Production Engineering
Sr. Manager - Production Engineering
Sr. Production Manager
Senior Manager, Production Engineering
Manager, Engineering (Production Orchestration)
Staff Technical Program Manager, Production
Project & Production Manager, Brand
Project Manager, Production Lines
Senior Technical Program Manager, Production Engineering
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Anduril Industries
|
$148,000 | 14 |
LandCare
|
$70,000 | 9 |
J&J Snack Foods
|
$70,000 | 7 |
HelloFresh
|
$45,497 | 7 |
Gotion, Inc.
|
$123,750 | 6 |
|
Fluidstack
|
$203,000 | 5 |
Relativity Space
|
$162,000 | 3 |
Vast
|
$160,000 | 3 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $83,200 | 5 |
Production Manager salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $213,600 | 6 |
| Austin | $203,000 | 3 |
| New York | $127,500 | 11 |
| Los Angeles | $97,096 | 9 |
CNC Operator vs Production Manager: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $74,880 per year (typically $54,080–$90,220), versus $102,500 for Production Manager ($83,213–$149,500). That puts Production Manager about 37% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so CNC Operator and Production 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.