Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$30.11/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 44.1%
- Live roles
- 641
Quality Assurance
$107,750
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 30.3%
- Live roles
- 864
Highest-paying jobs
CNC Machinist
Sr. Principal CNC Programmer
CNC Machinist Trainer
CNC Machinist/Programmer
CNC Machinist
Senior CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Programmer
Senior CNC Programmer & Machinist, 5-Axis
Lead CNC Machinist (PM Shift)
CNC Mill-Turn Machinist
Senior Composite CNC Programmer/Machinist
Highest-paying jobs
QA/QC Manager (Construction)
QA/QC Manager
Software Quality Assurance Manager 2
Software Quality Assurance Specialist/Applications Tester – TS/SCI w/ Poly
Manager, QA Method Validation
Sr. Quality Manager - Customer Assurance
Sr. Quality Manager - Design Assurance
Sr. Quality Manager - Process Assurance
Senior Manager Quality Assurance, Medical Device (Sustaining)
Software Quality Assurance Specialist/Applications Tester
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
SpaceX
|
$52,000 | 15 |
Caterpillar
|
$67,246 | 12 |
| GV GE Vernova | $75,920 | 11 |
Curtiss-Wright
|
$64,490 | 11 |
Regal Rexnord
|
$59,280 | 10 |
Mitsubishi Chemical Group
|
$67,600 | 9 |
Leidos
|
$81,213 | 8 |
Thorlabs
|
$67,080 | 8 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Regeneron
|
$98,050 | 16 |
Bristol Myers Squibb
|
$114,238 | 11 |
Cardinal Health
|
$92,425 | 10 |
|
GDIT
|
$165,672 | 7 |
Gilead Sciences
|
$135,233 | 7 |
Abbott
|
$149,000 | 6 |
| NO Novartis | $128,000 | 5 |
CACI
|
$139,400 | 4 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $98,186 | 4 |
| Los Angeles | $84,240 | 4 |
| New York | $67,600 | 5 |
Quality Assurance salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $151,500 | 3 |
| Chicago | $129,438 | 7 |
| Atlanta | $113,633 | 5 |
| New York | $111,000 | 6 |
| Toronto | $100,000 | 5 |
| Los Angeles | $92,500 | 3 |
CNC Operator vs Quality Assurance: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $30.11/hr per year (typically $25.10/hr–$35.68/hr), versus $107,750 for Quality Assurance ($82,534–$137,500). That puts Quality Assurance about 72% 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.