Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$78,520
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 31.8%
- Live roles
- 154
Quality Assurance
$110,735
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 31%
- Live roles
- 242
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
QA Engineering Manager
QA Engineering Manager
Senior Manager, GxP Electronic System Validation QA
Nuclear Quality Assurance Manager
ClearCalc Quality Assurance Manager
Senior Manager, GMP QA Operations
QA Manager, Training Services
Senior Manager, Quality Assurance
QA Engineering Manager
QA Manager
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Revolution Medicines
|
$99,000 | 3 |
Olema Oncology
|
$170,000 | 2 |
Vaxcyte
|
$163,500 | 2 |
|
Radformation
|
$162,500 | 2 |
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals
|
$144,000 | 2 |
Genetix Biotherapeutics
|
$142,000 | 2 |
Instacart
|
$118,797 | 2 |
Quince
|
$117,500 | 2 |
CNC Operator salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $83,200 | 5 |
Quality Assurance salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | $171,250 | 4 |
| New York | $162,000 | 3 |
| San Francisco | $151,500 | 5 |
| Los Angeles | $86,500 | 3 |
CNC Operator vs Quality Assurance: which pays more?
The median for CNC Operator is $78,520 per year (typically $61,360–$102,440), versus $110,735 for Quality Assurance ($75,625–$160,000). That puts Quality Assurance about 41% 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.