"How long does it take to become a cnc machinist in Louisiana?"

"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 apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists in Louisiana?"

"In Louisiana, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division, 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 Louisiana

Q: "How much do cnc machinists earn in Louisiana?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in Louisiana earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,110. Employment concentration in Louisiana is about 1.30 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in Louisiana?"

"Louisiana currently employs approximately 4,640 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

Louisiana machinists earn a median annual wage of $61,110 ($29.38/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,640 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.0% above the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,110 ($29.38/hr)
25th percentile: $49,030 per year
75th percentile: $75,170 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $84,930 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,930 per year
Workers employed in Louisiana: 4,640
Versus national median: 4.0% above the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.30 - this occupation is more concentrated in Louisiana than the national average

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

Louisiana employs approximately 4,640 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,110 ¹. The state’s concentration of cnc machinist jobs is 1.30x 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 Louisiana, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CNC Machinist in Louisiana

How do I become a cnc machinist in Louisiana? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for cnc machinists in Louisiana.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do cnc machinists earn in Louisiana? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Louisiana is $61,110 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,930 and experienced professionals can earn $84,930 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Louisiana): $61,110 per year ¹

CNC Machinist Apprenticeship Information in Louisiana

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

Contact Information:

Office: Louisiana Workforce Commission, Apprenticeship
Address: 1001 N. 23rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 342-7820
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in Louisiana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), machinists wages in Louisiana vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Lafayette	980	$59,830	$59,810	$39,470	$80,970
Baton Rouge	870	$67,700	$69,030	$45,930	$87,200
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux	570	$55,560	$55,760	$38,150	$76,080
New Orleans-Metairie	550	$66,990	$69,800	$44,340	$103,160
Shreveport-Bossier City	340	$60,440	$58,970	$38,180	$80,600
Lake Charles	280	$75,580	$73,690	$46,830	$108,260
Monroe	130	$63,350	$60,420	$39,780	$77,330
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington	110	$61,700	$61,070	$41,680	$79,830

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 2025.

Top Metros for Cnc machinists in Louisiana

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest cnc machinist employment within Louisiana according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Lafayette	980	$59,830
Baton Rouge	870	$67,700
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux	570	$55,560
New Orleans-Metairie	550	$66,990
Shreveport-Bossier City	340	$60,440

Explore cnc machinist programs in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and Houma.

Explore More Trades in Louisiana

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in Louisiana? Louisiana currently employs approximately 4,640 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do cnc machinists earn in Louisiana compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Louisiana is $61,110, which is $4,960 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Louisiana Registered Apprenticeship Division: http://www.laworks.net/ORS_websponsorsearch.asp ↩︎

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)