What is the average hourly pay for cnc operators in your state

[ImanCarrot]

I've said it time and time again- pay peanuts and you get monkeys.

I'm on about £13 per hour (which here in the Manchester, UK is STILL not enough to buy a house).

As an aside, I CAD/CAM, setup, run and inspect everything- as a previous poster said- from concept straight through to delivery and follow up. I'm a member of the Chartered Quality Institute and have over 25 years experience in my field.

Now... here's a thing worth considering- even at this wage level (which is off your scale), our company had to advertise nationaly for over SIX MONTHS before getting someone (me) to fill the position.

I beleive the skill base has been eroded to such an extent that it simply is not there anymore. The optical skills I learned during my apprenticeship were taught by guys who, by age, should have been retired- they were only working because no- one else had the skills. They had forgotten more stuff than I could ever learn, but I picked up so much off them and now... there's no- one to pass this knowledge on to. It will die with me I spose, which is a bit sad really.

One other thing while I'm on the soap box- I have mates here in the UK who have never worked a day in their lives. The State gives them money every two weeks, pays for their council house rent, their council tax etc etc. When you consider I'm paying over 500 quid a month rent and utilities etc when you factor everything in to consideration they are actualy earning MORE than me.

I couldn't do that though, but it is annoying when you come home from a hard days work, covered in oil, chips and a head full of maths to see them sat in their garden slugging beers and smoking *cough* stuff... for free.

But then again, I can see their point- why work when they can get it for free. You may not beleive me, but I know of at least one person who had another kid purlely cos she would get more money off the State (serious).

[star-turn]

ImanCarrot -

Yes i agree, the engineering skills base has been virtually destroyed in the UK

ST

[john37wisc]

In my part of the state, Kenosha, WI, the truck drivers make more than I do. Currently $17/hr USD to CAD/CAM program two CNC's in two different manufacturing environments. (Biesse Rover for our Cabinet Dept. and a Park Industries Destiny for our Granite Dept.) The company thinks they are paying me top dollar at that! It's $4/ gallon for milk and $3/ gallon for gas! There seems to be no respect for education these days.

[James Meyette]

In my view a CNC Operator is a "button pusher". Button pusher's wages go from slightly above Minimum Wage to about $14/hr max. IMHO, they are not worth that much. You can train a monkey to be an Operator.
JM2C

[Janos]

Not to pick on you personally because everybody is guilty of it, me included, going for the "economy ones".

The Manufacturing jobs have not gone overseas they have been "chased" overseas by us all going for the cheapest price regardless of quality.

More like they have been sold to the lowest bidder in the name of trying to pad the pockets of the uncaring uneducated politition. And big biz. Manufacturing is what made this country what it is today but people think "Oh, I'm getting such a good deal on this widgit from wal-mart, that I don't have to think sbout MY job." Remember when Wal-mart USED to have signs saying " 50-250 Jobs created by us selling this product." I would bet anyone a crisp $1.00 (Could afford more but can't due to outsouarsing) to anyone who could walk down any iasle in W.M. and pick up any two products that are made in the U.S.
Believe me when I tell you that I stand elbow to elbow with all my fellow tradesman in this. But I fear that like many times the troops in the field pay the price when the millitary intelligence make a fatal judgement call. I would also enjoy a larger paycheck. BuT seriously doubt that with all thing going on here will allow it.

Sorry about all my typos,(Temporarily blinded due to :AAAAGGGhhhhhh)

[tobyaxis]

Not to pick on you personally because everybody is guilty of it, me included, going for the "economy ones".

The Manufacturing jobs have not gone overseas they have been "chased" overseas by us all going for the cheapest price regardless of quality.

This is all too true and we are to blame for this because everyone wants more for less .

BTW: Does this Question mean "CNC Machinists" or "CNC Operators", because there is a HUGE Difference.

[simpy]

in Bosnia 1,5/h

[fishmonster13]

This is all too true and we are to blame for this because everyone wants more for less .

BTW: Does this Question mean "CNC Machinists" or "CNC Operators", because there is a HUGE Difference.

THE POLL SAYS OPERATERS , I FIGURE THAT MAENS BUTTON PUSHERS, BUTTON PUSHERS HERE MAKE AROUND 12 WITH 2 YEARS EXPERIANCE PUSHING BUTTONS,AND YOU CAN'T GET A JOB PUSHING BUTTONS WITH OUT THE EXPERIANCE. NOW CNC PROGRAMMERS START AT 14 AND GOES UP FROM THERE LOOKS LIKE IT TOPS AROUND 20 , in cincinnati,ohio

[Barry Young]

THE POLL SAYS OPERATERS , I FIGURE THAT MAENS BUTTON PUSHERS, BUTTON PUSHERS HERE MAKE AROUND 12 WITH 2 YEARS EXPERIANCE PUSHING BUTTONS,AND YOU CAN'T GET A JOB PUSHING BUTTONS WITH OUT THE EXPERIANCE. NOW CNC PROGRAMMERS START AT 14 AND GOES UP FROM THERE LOOKS LIKE IT TOPS AROUND 20 , in cincinnati,ohio

I have a friend working in the Cincinnati GE plant who gets $40, but he is a very experienced machinist not an operator. Good programmers here on the West coast make as much as $150k annually.

[fishmonster13]

I have a friend working in the Cincinnati GE plant who gets $40, but he is a very experienced machinist not an operator. Good programmers here on the West coast make as much as $150k annually.

thats about what they make at ge , probably the best place to work , i've been trying to get on there for years and my father in law works there .
i figure that 20 is what you get starting some where with 5+ years experiance

[jafgreen]

We pay are operators to push the start button-load-unload and gage there parts with stab pins $12+ per hour

[mad mark]

I agree with what both Barry and cartesian xyz have said. I went from making top dollar with a very very good paying employer, to an employer you had to pull teeth out of to get a $00.10 raise out of regardless of performance. There are I believe a shortage of skilled machinists and programmers, but part of that problem is the willingness to pay for them. Just because there is a "going rate" for this skill doesn't mean that when the supply gets tight the demand won't go up. Right now the supply is tight, and the demand is extremely high and employers views of what the wages "should be" are going to have to change. Or else no employees.....

This is the whole reason I went out on my own, I wasn't going to have someone else tell me I couldn't make what I was worth. I make what I want to. I get exactly what I put into my work and efficiency. PERIOD!