How to Become a CNC Machinist in Florida (2026)

Florida employs about 8,400 cnc machinists earning a median $57,140 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cnc machinists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Florida.

Compare CNC Machinist Schools in Florida

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
173.8$3,165 in-state / $11,859 out-of-state$48,61948%Yes*19 mi
272.4$2,878 in-state / $9,992 out-of-state$53,22437%Yes*171 mi
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364.4$2,370 in-state / $8,635 out-of-state$52,05143%Yes*298 mi
463.6$2,496 in-state / $9,739 out-of-state$49,05352%Yes*59 mi
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561.2$2,506 in-state / $9,111 out-of-state$49,78434%Yes*54 mi
654.3$3,992 in-state / $7,202 out-of-state$40,85261%Yes*332 mi
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753.5$3,268 in-state / $5,836 out-of-state$42,95648%Yes*237 mi
850.7$3,480 in-state / $6,048 out-of-state$40,58650%Yes*235 mi
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950.2$3,007 in-state / $5,575 out-of-state$41,87131%Yes*252 mi
1048.8$3,330 in-state / $5,898 out-of-state$44,29342%Yes*289 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.

Florida employs approximately 8,400 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,140 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 Florida, 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 (Florida): $57,140 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a CNC Machinist in Florida

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

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 Florida? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Florida is $57,140 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,870 and experienced professionals can earn $76,220 or more 1.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in Florida

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

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Florida’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Florida Office of Apprenticeship 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Florida Department of Education, Apprenticeship Division - Region 6
  • Address: 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, FL 32922
  • Phone: (321) 433-7974
  • Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in Florida

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in Florida

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach2,170$60,700$62,000$45,090$84,460
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater1,530$57,160$57,370$42,210$72,910
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford710$57,390$57,330$38,650$78,340
Jacksonville640$59,700$58,720$42,100$75,710
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville560$57,410$57,500$41,520$76,230
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach400$47,300$51,320$37,590$65,640
Lakeland-Winter Haven390$46,990$50,760$38,100$64,590
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota340$52,200$55,660$40,820$70,700
Port St. Lucie200$57,610$59,970$41,490$79,910
Cape Coral-Fort Myers170$54,840$56,460$40,590$73,120
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin170$59,630$60,170$43,400$81,060
Naples-Marco Island170$47,200$52,380$37,470$73,010
Gainesville120$49,390$52,490$35,660$71,000
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent110$47,360$51,540$36,720$70,250
Ocala90$47,750$50,190$36,220$63,810
Panama City-Panama City Beach90$54,580$55,450$37,540$69,580
Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor70$59,470$58,660$38,110$78,510
Tallahassee50$49,370$51,770$38,660$66,060
Homosassa Springs30$58,220$55,210$42,240$78,720

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 Florida? Florida currently employs approximately 8,400 cnc machinists 1. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Florida? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Florida. You can also contact the Florida Office of Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do cnc machinists earn in Florida compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Florida is $57,140, which is $990 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data 1.

In Florida

Top local programs

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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


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Florida Office of Apprenticeship: https://web02.fldoe.org/Apprenticeship/search.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)