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

"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 Minnesota?"

"In Minnesota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Apprenticeship Minnesota, 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 Minnesota

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in Minnesota earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,140. Employment concentration in Minnesota is about 2.29 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Minnesota currently employs approximately 12,500 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

Minnesota machinists earn a median annual wage of $61,140 ($29.39/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 12,500 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.1% above the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,140 ($29.39/hr)
25th percentile: $50,320 per year
75th percentile: $74,650 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $80,380 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,550 per year
Workers employed in Minnesota: 12,500
Versus national median: 4.1% above the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.29 - this occupation is more concentrated in Minnesota than the national average

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

Minnesota employs approximately 12,500 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,140 ¹. The state’s concentration of cnc machinist jobs is 2.29x 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 Minnesota, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CNC Machinist in Minnesota

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

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 Minnesota? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Minnesota is $61,140 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,550 and experienced professionals can earn $80,380 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 (Minnesota): $61,140 per year ¹

CNC Machinist Apprenticeship Information in Minnesota

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

Contact Information:

Office: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Apprenticeship Unit
Address: 443 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4303
Phone: (651) 284-5090
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in Minnesota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	9,420	$62,070	$63,000	$47,500	$80,430
St. Cloud	460	$62,230	$64,110	$48,280	$77,340
Duluth	330	$69,440	$66,650	$47,550	$78,220
Rochester	270	$57,770	$58,870	$48,600	$79,570
La Crosse-Onalaska	170	$62,960	$62,430	$37,080	$80,440
Mankato	160	$61,120	$62,470	$46,370	$79,080
Sioux Falls	160	$52,000	$54,720	$43,040	$64,940
Fargo	130	$61,820	$61,100	$47,810	$77,270
Grand Forks	100	$57,890	$58,670	$44,710	$75,220

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 Minnesota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington	9,420	$62,070
St. Cloud	460	$62,230
Duluth	330	$69,440
Rochester	270	$57,770
Mankato	160	$61,120

Explore cnc machinist programs in Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Duluth.

Explore More Trades in Minnesota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in Minnesota? Minnesota currently employs approximately 12,500 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do cnc machinists earn in Minnesota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Minnesota is $61,140, which is $4,990 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Apprenticeship Minnesota: https://secure.doli.state.mn.us/apprenticeshipsponsor/ ↩︎

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)