How to Become a CNC Machinist in Indiana (2026)

Indiana employs about 14,320 cnc machinists earning a median $57,800 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cnc machinists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Indiana.

Compare CNC Machinist Schools in Indiana

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
168.3Contact school for pricing$52,29990%—120 mi
255.7$3,675 in-state / $8,556 out-of-state$48,98041%Yes*113 mi
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353.4$5,220 in-state / $25,830 out-of-state$50,34332%Yes*100 mi
452.3Contact school for pricing$49,31078%—105 mi
Sponsored Ad
549.2$5,154 in-state / $9,935 out-of-state$53,36940%Yes*40 mi
647.7$4,176 in-state / $11,064 out-of-state$50,64721%Yes*110 mi
Sponsored Ad
746.3$4,176 in-state / $6,624 out-of-state$52,19143%Yes*111 mi
841.5$4,440 in-state / $7,440 out-of-state$47,29945%—76 mi
Sponsored Ad
940.9$4,284 in-state / $13,266 out-of-state$47,31532%—112 mi
1038.5Contact school for pricing$51,74257%—34 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.

Indiana employs approximately 14,320 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $57,800 1. The state’s concentration of cnc machinist jobs is 2.42x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Indiana, 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 (Indiana): $57,800 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a CNC Machinist in Indiana

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

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 Indiana? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Indiana is $57,800 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,400 and experienced professionals can earn $73,500 or more 1.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in Indiana

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Indiana

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years.

Contact Information:

  • Office: Ivy Technical College
  • Address: 50 West Fall Creek Pkwy., Indianapolis, IN 46208
  • Phone: (888) 489-5463
  • Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in Indiana

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in Indiana

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin11,270$59,520$60,510$38,680$78,990
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood3,540$50,610$56,240$42,440$72,140
Cincinnati2,890$57,300$57,360$39,120$77,570
Columbus1,470$61,230$60,160$48,640$74,720
Fort Wayne1,030$53,770$54,020$38,510$71,210
Louisville/Jefferson County990$60,500$60,750$40,780$79,570
Lafayette-West Lafayette720$62,220$58,640$41,060$75,610
South Bend-Mishawaka630$51,990$53,560$39,170$68,810
Elkhart-Goshen590$49,910$53,800$41,560$71,320
Bloomington540$47,850$53,940$37,140$73,020
Terre Haute240$54,160$53,480$38,680$65,880
Evansville190$58,410$59,880$40,290$80,810
Muncie150$48,360$47,860$27,730$65,150
Michigan City-La Porte140$51,700$53,640$38,500$67,600
Kokomo60$45,200$47,320$29,570$61,440

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 Indiana? Indiana currently employs approximately 14,320 cnc machinists 1. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Indiana? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Indiana.

How much do cnc machinists earn in Indiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Indiana is $57,800, which is $1,650 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data 1.

In Indiana

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)