What apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists in North Dakota?

In North Dakota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the North Dakota Workforce Development - Apprenticeship, 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 Dakota (2026)

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in North Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,820. Employment concentration in North Dakota is roughly 0.71 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

North Dakota currently employs approximately 560 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 Dakota machinists earn a median annual wage of $61,820 ($29.72/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 560 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 5.2% above the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,820 ($29.72/hr)
25th percentile: $49,300 per year
75th percentile: $74,670 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $80,030 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,810 per year
Workers employed in North Dakota: 560
Versus national median: 5.2% above the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.71 - this occupation is less concentrated in North Dakota than the national average

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

North Dakota employs about 560 cnc machinists earning a median $61,820 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 Dakota.

Compare CNC Machinist Schools in North Dakota

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	Mitchell Technical College	78.9	$7,524	$54,865	76%	Yes*	270 mi
2	Lake Area Technical College	74.7	$6,718	$49,488	73%	Yes*	216 mi
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3	Alexandria Technical & Community College	74.5	$6,236	$59,377	60%	Yes*	236 mi
4	North Dakota State College of Science	72.6	$5,974 in-state / $6,973 out-of-state	$60,587	55%	Yes*	171 mi
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5	Ridgewater College	68.7	$6,121	$49,859	50%	Yes*	275 mi
6	St Cloud Technical and Community College	63.7	$6,124	$58,691	45%	Yes*	297 mi
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7	Central Lakes College-Brainerd	60.4	$6,249	$50,357	53%	Yes*	275 mi
8	Western Dakota Technical College	60.4	$8,294	$49,930	54%	Yes*	280 mi
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9	Hennepin Technical College	58.9	$5,940	$59,906	42%	Yes*	346 mi
10	Minnesota West Community and Technical College	58.5	$6,491	$52,390	52%	Yes*	271 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.

North Dakota employs approximately 560 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,820 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 Dakota, 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 Dakota): $61,820 per year ¹

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

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

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 Dakota? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in North Dakota is $61,820 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,810 and experienced professionals can earn $80,030 or more ¹.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in North Dakota

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

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

Contact Information:

Office: Bismarck Field Office
Address: 304 E. Broadway, Bismarck, ND 58501-5900
Phone: (701) 250-4700
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Fargo	130	$61,820	$61,100	$47,810	$77,270
Grand Forks	100	$57,890	$58,670	$44,710	$75,220
Bismarck	70	$74,090	$73,150	$48,460	$105,910

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 Dakota? North Dakota currently employs approximately 560 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 Dakota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in North Dakota. You can also contact the North Dakota Workforce Development - Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do cnc machinists earn in North Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in North Dakota is $61,820, which is $5,670 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Dakota

Best Trade Schools in North Dakota (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in North Dakota

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 Dakota Workforce Development - Apprenticeship: 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)