---
title: "CNC Machining Statistics 2026: Market Size, Workforce, and Industry Trends"
description: "Current US CNC machining industry statistics. How many machinists in the US, average machinist wage, CNC market size, top states, multi-axis adoption, and how contract machining is shifting in 2026."
slug: cnc-machining-statistics
type: statistics
publishedAt: 2026-05-28
updatedAt: 2026-06-02
readingTime: "~11 min read"
keywords: "CNC machining statistics, CNC industry, machinist jobs, CNC market size, multi-axis machining, US contract machining, how many machinists in US"
breadcrumb:
  - { name: "Home", href: "/" }
  - { name: "CNC Machining Statistics", href: "/cnc-machining-statistics" }
linkPhrases:
  - "CNC machining"
  - "CNC machining statistics"
  - "contract machining"
related:
  - manufacturing-statistics
  - welding-statistics
  - manufacturing-industry-trends-2026
sources:
  - title: "Machinists Occupational Employment and Wages"
    publisher: "US Bureau of Labor Statistics"
    year: "2023"
    url: "https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes514041.htm"
  - title: "Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators"
    publisher: "US Bureau of Labor Statistics"
    year: "2023"
    url: "https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes514012.htm"
  - title: "USMTO Manufacturing Technology Orders Report"
    publisher: "Association for Manufacturing Technology"
    year: "2024"
    url: "https://www.amtonline.org/usmto"
  - title: "Global CNC Machine Market Outlook"
    publisher: "International Trade Administration"
    year: "2024"
    url: "https://www.trade.gov/industry-data"
---

<UpdatedDate date="2026-06-02" readingTime="~11 min read" />

CNC machining sits behind nearly every aerospace component, medical implant, and precision automotive part made in the United States. The role pays well, demands deep skill, and is harder to fill every year.

<KeyTakeaways>

- US machinist employment is roughly 295,000, with another 145,000 CNC tool operators in dedicated roles.
- The US CNC machining services market generates an estimated $15B to $20B in annual revenue.
- Multi-axis machining (5-axis and beyond) is the fastest-growing segment, especially in aerospace and medical.
- Average machinist age sits near 47, with retirement outpacing new entrants almost two to one.
- California, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Illinois host the largest concentrations of contract machining shops.

</KeyTakeaways>

## How many machinists are there in the US?

<StatSnippet value="295K" source="US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023 OEWS" sourceUrl="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes514041.htm">
US traditional machinist employment as of 2023.
</StatSnippet>

<StatSnippet value="145K" source="US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023 OEWS" sourceUrl="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes514012.htm">
US CNC tool operator employment as of 2023, on top of the machinist count above.
</StatSnippet>

Combined, that puts roughly 440,000 people running the machines that produce most US-made precision parts.

## What is the average CNC machinist wage in the US?

<StatSnippet value="$50,840" source="BLS, 2023" sourceUrl="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes514041.htm">
Median annual wage for US machinists.
</StatSnippet>

<StatSnippet value="$46,930" source="BLS, 2023" sourceUrl="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes514012.htm">
Median annual wage for US CNC tool operators.
</StatSnippet>

Skilled CNC programmers and 5-axis operators command much more. Programmers with five-plus years of experience routinely earn $75,000 to $110,000. Lights-out shop leads and senior multi-axis specialists can clear $130,000 in high-cost regions.

<StatGrid>
  <StatCard value="$75K-$110K" label="Typical CNC programmer wage, 5+ years" source="Industry surveys, 2024" />
  <StatCard value="~47" label="Average machinist age" source="AMT/SME, 2024" />
</StatGrid>

## How big is the US CNC machining market?

<StatSnippet value="$15B-$20B" source="Industry estimates, 2024" sourceUrl="https://www.amtonline.org/usmto">
US contract machining services market annual revenue, depending on segment definitions.
</StatSnippet>

<StatSnippet value="$80B+" source="ITA, 2024" sourceUrl="https://www.trade.gov/industry-data">
Global CNC machine tool market revenue, with the US holding the second-largest installed base after China.
</StatSnippet>

Aerospace, medical device, defense, and automotive are the four largest customer categories. The market is highly fragmented: an estimated 28,000 to 32,000 establishments perform CNC machining as a primary or significant activity, but the top 1% of shops generate roughly a third of total revenue.

<StatGrid>
  <StatCard value="28-32K" label="US shops with significant CNC activity" source="Census ASM, 2023" />
  <StatCard value="33%" label="Revenue share held by top 1% of shops" source="AMT, 2024" />
</StatGrid>

## Which states have the most CNC machining?

<DataTable caption="Top states by combined machinist and CNC operator employment, 2023">

| State         | Total CNC + machinist | Top sector mix                              |
| ------------- | --------------------: | ------------------------------------------- |
| California    |               31,000  | Aerospace, medical, defense                 |
| Michigan      |               27,000  | Automotive, defense, machinery              |
| Texas         |               25,000  | Aerospace, energy, defense                  |
| Ohio          |               22,000  | Automotive, aerospace, machinery            |
| Illinois      |               19,000  | Machinery, automotive, food equipment       |
| Pennsylvania  |               18,000  | Energy, aerospace, machinery                |
| Indiana       |               18,000  | Automotive, machinery, aerospace            |
| Wisconsin     |               16,000  | Machinery, automotive, agriculture          |
| Washington    |               15,000  | Aerospace, defense                          |
| Connecticut   |               11,000  | Aerospace, defense, medical                 |

</DataTable>

<InlineCTA title="Are AI assistants citing your shop?" body="When buyers ask ChatGPT or Perplexity for CNC machining suppliers, shops with strong capability content show up first. Run a free check to see where your shop currently stands." source="cnc-machining-statistics-mid" />

## What share of new CNC machines are multi-axis?

<StatSnippet value="~28%" source="Association for Manufacturing Technology USMTO Report, 2024" sourceUrl="https://www.amtonline.org/usmto">
5-axis machining centers' share of new US machine tool orders by value in 2024, up from 15% a decade ago.
</StatSnippet>

The aerospace and medical sectors drive most of that demand, because both require complex geometries and tight tolerances that 3-axis machining cannot economically produce.

<BarChart title="Estimated share of new CNC machine tool orders by axis count, 2024 (US, value-weighted)" unit="%" series="3-axis:48|4-axis:18|5-axis:28|Multi-spindle Swiss:4|Other multi-axis:2" />

Multi-axis machines also let shops collapse multiple setups into one operation, which improves yield and shortens lead times.

<PullQuote source="Association for Manufacturing Technology, 2024 USMTO Report">
US manufacturing technology orders crossed $5 billion in the first half of 2024, with multi-axis machines accounting for the fastest growth segment for the third consecutive year.
</PullQuote>

## How big is the CNC machinist shortage?

<StatSnippet value="~7,000" source="DOL Apprenticeship USA, 2024" sourceUrl="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm">
Active US machinist apprenticeships in 2024.
</StatSnippet>

Workforce shortage is the deeper issue. New machinist apprenticeships are growing, but starting from a low base. Industry analysts project the supply gap will tighten through 2030 even with current training expansion.

## What does this mean for CNC shops in 2026?

Two structural shifts shape the competitive picture. The first is concentration in the higher tiers. Shops with multi-axis capability, lights-out runs, and proven aerospace or medical certifications win more of the high-margin work. The second is buyer behavior. Procurement engineers source through a mix of classical search, AI assistants, and supplier directories.

<Callout type="tip" title="Where to go from here">

For broader context, read the [manufacturing statistics report](/manufacturing-statistics) and [manufacturing industry trends 2026](/manufacturing-industry-trends-2026). For welding industry parallels, see [welding industry statistics](/welding-statistics). To see how your CNC shop currently shows up across Google and AI search, run a [free AI-visibility check](/checker).

</Callout>

<CiteBox title="CNC Machining Statistics 2026" url="https://manufacturingseo.ai/cnc-machining-statistics" citation={`Manufacturing SEO AI. "CNC Machining Statistics 2026: Market Size, Workforce, and Industry Trends." Manufacturing SEO AI, June 2026. https://manufacturingseo.ai/cnc-machining-statistics`} />