Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$75,440
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 34%
- Live roles
- 147
Quality Assurance
$112,112
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 33.3%
- Live roles
- 249
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
Technical Program Manager, QA Program
QA Engineering Manager
QA Engineering Manager
Senior Manager, CMC QA
Senior Manager, GxP Electronic System Validation QA
ClearCalc Quality Assurance Manager
Senior Manager, GMP QA Operations
QA Manager, Training Services
Project Quality Assurance Manager
Principal Analytical QA Specialist, Drug Substance
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 |
|---|---|---|
Legend Biotech US
|
$90,478 | 4 |
Green Thumb
|
$107,500 | 3 |
|
Revolution Medicines
|
$99,000 | 3 |
|
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical
|
$171,425 | 2 |
Olema Oncology
|
$170,000 | 2 |
|
Radformation
|
$162,500 | 2 |
Genetix Biotherapeutics
|
$142,000 | 2 |
Quince
|
$117,500 | 2 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $83,200 | 5 |
Quality Assurance salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $171,250 | 4 |
| San Francisco | $166,250 | 8 |
| New York | $161,250 | 4 |
CNC Operator vs Quality Assurance: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $75,440 per year (typically $54,600–$91,780), versus $112,112 for Quality Assurance ($75,000–$160,000). That puts Quality Assurance about 49% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so CNC Operator and Quality Assurance 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.