Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$78,520
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 31.8%
- Live roles
- 154
Plant Manager
$175,330
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 35.5%
- Live roles
- 62
Highest-paying jobs
CNC Operator
CNC Lathe Setup/Operator
CNC Programmer & Machinist (3- Axis & 5-Axis Okuma)
Senior CNC Programmer & Machinist, 5-Axis
CNC Machinist
Senior CNC Machinist
Senior Composite CNC Programmer
CNC Programmer (Mill, Lathe & Swiss)
CNC Programmer (Starship Components) - Level 4/5 (2nd Shift)
CNC Machine Programmer
Highest-paying jobs
Plant Manager
Staff Product Manager, AI Factory
Senior Engineering Manager, Factory Core
Manager, Plant Control Engineering
Technical Account Manager - Token Factory
Plant Operations Manager (Jet Fuel Plant)
Manufacturing Plant Manager
Sr. Plant Manager
Lead Project Manager, Factory Development
Sr Manager, Data Factory Operation
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
SpaceX
|
$78,520 | 10 |
|
Mach Industries
|
$85,280 | 3 |
|
Rennscot MFG
|
$84,240 | 3 |
Thorlabs
|
$67,600 | 3 |
| LP Lionshead Precision Metals | $48,880 | 3 |
|
Inversion
|
$108,160 | 2 |
|
General Matter
|
$93,600 | 2 |
Freeform
|
$70,200 | 2 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| NE New Era Technology | $135,000 | 3 |
Clearway Energy
|
$131,000 | 3 |
|
Fluidstack
|
$315,000 | 1 |
|
Domino Data Lab
|
$262,500 | 1 |
|
Hadrian Automation
|
$250,000 | 1 |
|
Helion
|
$220,000 | 1 |
|
Nebius
|
$202,500 | 1 |
|
Twelve
|
$198,000 | 1 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $83,200 | 5 |
CNC Operator vs Plant Manager: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $78,520 per year (typically $61,360–$102,440), versus $175,330 for Plant Manager ($135,630–$200,250). That puts Plant Manager about 123% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so CNC Operator and Plant Manager 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.