Side-by-side distribution
CNC Operator
$78,520
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 31.8%
- Live roles
- 154
Quality Control
$55,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 32.4%
- Live roles
- 71
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
Quality Control Inspector
Quality Control Inspector
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
Trexon
|
$45,240 | 6 |
|
Murray Company Mechanical Contractors
|
$93,600 | 2 |
|
Xometry
|
$81,750 | 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 $78,520 per year (typically $61,360–$102,440), versus $55,000 for Quality Control ($45,760–$74,000). That puts CNC Operator about 43% 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.