Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$31.00/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 41.3%
- Live roles
- 670
Quality Control
$25.00/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 34.9%
- Live roles
- 347
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)
CNC Mill-Turn Machinist
Lead CNC Machinist (PM Shift)
CNC Programmer
Highest-paying jobs
Quality Control Inspector Lead
Quality Control Inspector II - NCR
Quality Control Inspector - Systems
Quality Control Inspector
Quality Control Inspector
QC Highway/Bridge Inspector
Quality Control Inspector
Quality Control Technician (Machining)
Aircraft Quality Control Inspector
Aircraft Warehouse Quality Control Inspector
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Regal Rexnord
|
$61,360 | 14 |
SpaceX
|
$52,000 | 13 |
Caterpillar
|
$66,498 | 9 |
| GV GE Vernova | $85,635 | 8 |
Graco
|
$67,912 | 8 |
Mitsubishi Chemical Group
|
$67,600 | 8 |
Jabil
|
$66,508 | 8 |
| WO Woodward | $52,182 | 8 |
Trexon
Osmo
Flex
Danaher
PPG
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $98,186 | 4 |
| Los Angeles | $84,240 | 4 |
| New York | $63,800 | 6 |
Quality Control salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $100,878 | 4 |
| New York | $47,060 | 5 |
CNC Operator vs Quality Control: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $31.00/hr per year (typically $25.00/hr–$36.69/hr), versus $25.00/hr for Quality Control ($22.06/hr–$29.94/hr). That puts CNC Operator about 24% 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.