What apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists in District of Columbia?

In District of Columbia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Department of Employment Services, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in District of Columbia (2026)

Q: How much do cnc machinists earn in District of Columbia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in District of Columbia earned a median annual wage of approximately $72,900. Employment concentration in District of Columbia is roughly 0.12 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia currently employs approximately 160 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

District of Columbia machinists earn a median annual wage of $72,900 ($35.05/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 160 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 24.1% above the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $72,900 ($35.05/hr)
25th percentile: $56,570 per year
75th percentile: $72,900 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $98,850 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $56,570 per year
Workers employed in District of Columbia: 160
Versus national median: 24.1% above the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.12 - this occupation is less concentrated in District of Columbia than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

District of Columbia employs about 160 cnc machinists earning a median $72,900 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cnc machinists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in District of Columbia.

Compare CNC Machinist Schools in District of Columbia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Williamson College of the Trades	81.5	$31,611	$79,194	83%	—	110 mi
2	Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology	75.3	Contact school for pricing	$47,037	95%	—	141 mi
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3	Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology	67.0	$9,050	$57,788	71%	—	87 mi
4	Somerset County Technology Center	66.2	Contact school for pricing	$46,805	87%	—	131 mi
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5	Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center	64.0	Contact school for pricing	$43,600	79%	—	140 mi
6	Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center	55.5	Contact school for pricing	$42,527	68%	—	132 mi
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7	Camden County College	55.1	$4,320 in-state / $4,416 out-of-state	$55,466	31%	Yes*	122 mi
8	Delaware County Community College	50.1	$6,930 in-state / $15,540 out-of-state	$56,647	24%	Yes*	114 mi
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9	Lehigh Carbon Community College	47.7	$5,280 in-state / $13,270 out-of-state	$50,125	30%	Yes*	142 mi
10	Berks Career & Technology Center	44.8	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	62%	—	120 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

District of Columbia employs approximately 160 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $72,900 ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 29,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a CNC Machinist in District of Columbia, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (District of Columbia): $72,900 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CNC Machinist in District of Columbia

How to become a CNC Machinist in District of Columbia? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for cnc machinists in District of Columbia.

How long does it take? Most paths into the cnc machinist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do cnc machinists earn in District of Columbia? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in District of Columbia is $72,900 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $56,570 and experienced professionals can earn $98,850 or more ¹.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in District of Columbia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most District of Columbia training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in District of Columbia that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to cnc machinists in District of Columbia before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

CNC Machinist Apprenticeship Information in District of Columbia

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. District of Columbia’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Department of Employment Services ³.

Contact Information:

Office: D.C. Apprenticeship Council
Address: 4058 Minnesota Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 724-7000
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), machinists wages in District of Columbia vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	620	$68,850	$75,140	$48,820	$113,750

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in District of Columbia? District of Columbia currently employs approximately 160 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in District of Columbia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in District of Columbia. You can also contact the Department of Employment Services for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do cnc machinists earn in District of Columbia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in District of Columbia is $72,900, which is $16,750 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data ¹.

In District of Columbia

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Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Department of Employment Services: https://does.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/does/publication/attachments/DOES_Up-to%20date%20Non-Union%20Sponsors%202011.pdf ↩︎

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)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)