What apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, registered apprenticeships are administered through the North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions - Apprenticeships, 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 North Carolina (2026)

Q: How much do cnc machinists earn in North Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in North Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $55,230.

Q: What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in North Carolina?

North Carolina currently employs approximately 8,330 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

North Carolina employs about 8,330 cnc machinists earning a median $55,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cnc machinists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in North Carolina.

Compare CNC Machinist Schools in North Carolina

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	Central Carolina Community College	60.6	$2,711 in-state / $8,855 out-of-state	$42,844	43%	Yes*	34 mi
2	Stanly Community College	53.1	$2,672 in-state / $8,816 out-of-state	$44,892	48%	Yes*	28 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Forsyth Technical Community College	52.9	$2,276 in-state / $6,884 out-of-state	$48,625	34%	Yes*	51 mi
4	Randolph Community College	51.7	$2,416 in-state / $8,176 out-of-state	$39,546	58%	Yes*	16 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Davidson-Davie Community College	51.6	$1,980 in-state / $6,588 out-of-state	$44,533	46%	Yes*	37 mi
6	Alamance Community College	50.9	$2,592 in-state / $8,736 out-of-state	$41,411	39%	Yes*	48 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Durham Technical Community College	49.8	$1,986 in-state / $6,594 out-of-state	$57,868	45%	Yes*	61 mi
8	Richmond Community College	49.0	$1,956 in-state / $6,564 out-of-state	$42,771	46%	Yes*	38 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Rowan-Cabarrus Community College	47.2	$2,064 in-state / $6,672 out-of-state	$43,916	35%	Yes*	43 mi
10	Fayetteville Technical Community College	45.5	$2,628 in-state / $8,772 out-of-state	$48,138	24%	Yes*	54 mi
Sponsored Ad

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.

North Carolina employs approximately 8,330 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $55,230 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 North Carolina, 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 (North Carolina): $55,230 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CNC Machinist in North Carolina

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

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 North Carolina? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in North Carolina is $55,230 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,110 and experienced professionals can earn $75,570 or more ¹.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in North Carolina

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. North Carolina’s apprenticeship program is administered by the North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions - Apprenticeships ³.

Contact Information:

Office: Forsyth Tech Apprenticeship Program
Address: 2100 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Phone: (336) 723-0371
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	2,390	$60,210	$58,820	$39,880	$76,080
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	2,350	$62,900	$62,430	$48,880	$76,540
Winston-Salem	910	$50,350	$52,370	$36,180	$64,010
Asheville	850	$53,110	$54,440	$39,950	$76,340
Raleigh-Cary	570	$61,430	$58,670	$39,940	$72,020
Greensboro-High Point	530	$52,270	$53,470	$37,230	$68,650
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton	460	$43,430	$47,050	$37,440	$59,550
Durham-Chapel Hill	220	$50,740	$54,620	$38,690	$71,480
Wilmington	180	$62,810	$61,550	$38,700	$79,090
Burlington	110	$56,460	$54,790	$37,590	$72,390
Greenville	100	$58,010	$53,410	$37,230	$65,190
Rocky Mount	90	$56,920	$59,160	$37,820	$80,420
Fayetteville	80	$58,150	$64,270	$44,880	$84,410
Goldsboro	60	$59,790	$55,040	$38,120	$59,790
Pinehurst-Southern Pines	40	$53,840	$55,970	$44,590	$64,120
Jacksonville	30	$55,500	$58,390	$42,620	$76,900

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 North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 8,330 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in North Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in North Carolina. You can also contact the North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions - Apprenticeships for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do cnc machinists earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in North Carolina is $55,230, which is $920 below the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Carolina

Best Trade Schools in North Carolina (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in North Carolina

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
North Carolina Division of Workforce Solutions - Apprenticeships: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

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)