Quick answer: CNC machinists in California earn a median of $57,190 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). This page lists accredited CNC machinist schools near Ridgecrest, California with local wage data and median graduate earnings for each school.
This guide rounds up CNC machinist schools serving Ridgecrest, California and the local job-market figures worth checking first. For context, the state median annual wage for this occupation is approximately $57,190 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The school listings below are sorted by proximity to Ridgecrest. Each entry includes the school name, address, and the credentials offered. Use the Kern County and California figures above as a reference point when comparing program length, schedule, and tuition.
CNC Machinist Schools near Ridgecrest
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
How long does CNC machinist training take near Ridgecrest?
CNC machinist certificate programs near Ridgecrest typically take 6 to 12 months of full-time study, while associate degree programs generally run about 2 years. Many CNC machinists also enter the field through a registered apprenticeship, which combines paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction and usually takes 3 to 5 years to complete. Actual completion time depends on schedule (full-time vs. part-time) and any prerequisite coursework.
How much do CNC machinists earn in California?
According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), CNC machinists in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,190. Pay varies with experience, certification, and employer; the 10th to 90th percentile range was approximately $37,440 to $88,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many CNC machinist schools are near Ridgecrest?
The schools listed above are within about 250 miles of Ridgecrest. Compare them by tuition, program length, and the credential each one awards.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
Data
Provider
Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
