Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$75,440
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 34%
- Live roles
- 147
Quality Control
$50,960
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 29.6%
- Live roles
- 71
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
Quality Control Inspector
Quality Control Inspector
Quality Control Technician
Line Maintenance Quality Control Inspector - $800 monthly stipend + $10,000 Bonus!
Technician, Quality Control
Quality Control Inspector
Quality Control Inspector
Repair & Quality Control Technician
Quality Control Field Technician (Contract)
Quality Control Technician
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Trexon
|
$45,240 | 6 |
|
Xometry
|
$81,750 | 2 |
|
Thorlabs
|
$42,442 | 2 |
| IE Industrial Electric Manufacturing | $85,998 | 1 |
|
Breeze Airways™
|
$81,120 | 1 |
|
F.H. Paschen
|
$80,000 | 1 |
|
Osmo
|
$74,000 | 1 |
|
TechFlow, Inc.
|
$65,000 | 1 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $83,200 | 5 |
CNC Operator vs Quality Control: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $75,440 per year (typically $54,600–$91,780), versus $50,960 for Quality Control ($44,615–$68,750). That puts CNC Operator about 48% 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.