Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$39.50/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 44.9%
- Live roles
- 167
Quality Control
$51,480
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 33.3%
- Live roles
- 84
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
Geomatics Quality Control Technician
Supplier Quality Control Inspector
Technician, Quality Control
1566 - Quality Control Technician- RF Hardware & Electronics
Quality Control Inspector II
Quality Control Inspector II
Quality Control Technician
Structural Steel QC Inspector – 1st Shift
Structural Steel QC Inspector – 1st Shift
Quality Control Technician
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 |
|---|---|---|
Trexon
|
$45,240 | 6 |
|
Qualdoc
|
$65,520 | 2 |
|
Zone 5 Technologies
|
$63,544 | 2 |
fairlife
|
$57,200 | 2 |
| RC Revlon Corporate | $50,000 | 2 |
|
Phasor Engineering Inc
|
$85,000 | 1 |
|
Osmo
|
$74,000 | 1 |
|
Anduril Industries
|
$73,840 | 1 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $84,240 | 4 |
Quality Control salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $57,200 | 3 |
CNC Operator vs Quality Control: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $39.50/hr per year (typically $25.00/hr–$43.50/hr), versus $51,480 for Quality Control ($47,060–$62,998). That puts CNC Operator about 60% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so CNC Operator and Quality Control 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.