Career Paths From Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move88.9% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 7% lower.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$47,180
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move90.4% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% higher.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$52,800
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
MachinistsAdvancement86.6% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Machinists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Machinists is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 16% higher.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$58,750
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move89.1% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$50,620
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move90% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% lower.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$46,550
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move84.8% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (85% match). Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 3% lower.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$49,080
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Industrial Machinery MechanicsCareer Change85.8% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Industrial Machinery Mechanics share a similar Transferable Skills profile (86% match). Industrial Machinery Mechanics is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 27% higher.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$64,520
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move89.9% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 6% lower.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$47,720
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move86.6% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (87% match). Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% lower.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$46,570
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move84.7% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (85% match). Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 9% lower.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$46,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersLateral Move86.2% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (86% match). Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 14% higher.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$58,040
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersLateral Move87.7% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 10% lower.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$45,760
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersLateral Move85% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (85% match). Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 8% lower.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$46,460
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move88% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$50,140
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticLateral Move87.5% skill match
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic share a similar Transferable Skills profile (88% match). Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% lower.
Current median salary
$50,690
Target median salary
$48,750
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.