Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$31.12/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 41.5%
- Live roles
- 679
Quality Assurance
$107,500
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 35.7%
- Live roles
- 838
Highest-paying jobs
Sr. Principal CNC Programmer
CNC Machinist (1st Shift)
CNC Programmer
CNC Machinist/Programmer
Lead Design CNC Programmer/Operator
CNC Programmer/ Manufacturing Engineer- Machining
CNC Machinist (Multiple Shifts)
Lead CNC Machinist (PM Shift)
CNC Mill-Turn Machinist
CNC Programmer
Highest-paying jobs
QA Manager, Personal Health Care, External Supply Solutions
Contract QA/QC Program Implementation Manager
Cx, QA, & Field Engineer, Site Manager
Senior Manager, Quality Assurance
Senior Manager / Associate Director, Clinical Quality Assurance
Engineering Manager, QA
Software Quality Assurance Manager 2
Software Quality Assurance Specialist/Applications Tester - TS/SCI with Polygraph
Principal QA Specialist (Multi-dose pens), CVRM
Principal QA Specialist (Assembly & Packaging), CVRM
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Regal Rexnord
|
$61,360 | 14 |
| GV GE Vernova | $109,200 | 13 |
SpaceX
|
$52,000 | 13 |
Caterpillar
|
$66,498 | 10 |
Graco
|
$67,912 | 8 |
Mitsubishi Chemical Group
|
$67,600 | 8 |
Jabil
|
$66,508 | 8 |
|
CACI
|
$64,896 | 7 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Regeneron
|
$98,050 | 19 |
Cardinal Health
|
$86,588 | 10 |
Bristol Myers Squibb
|
$111,118 | 7 |
|
GDIT
|
$155,217 | 6 |
Abbott
|
$130,000 | 6 |
| AB AbCellera | $65,411 | 6 |
Gilead Sciences
|
$142,155 | 5 |
Cumming Group
|
$122,033 | 5 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $98,186 | 4 |
| Los Angeles | $90,480 | 7 |
| New York | $63,800 | 6 |
Quality Assurance salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $151,800 | 4 |
| New York | $131,431 | 8 |
| Los Angeles | $110,000 | 4 |
| Toronto | $108,322 | 4 |
| Chicago | $105,500 | 7 |
CNC Operator vs Quality Assurance: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $31.12/hr per year (typically $25.00/hr–$37.50/hr), versus $107,500 for Quality Assurance ($80,000–$134,200). That puts Quality Assurance about 66% 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.