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

"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 Tennessee?"

"In Tennessee, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Tennessee Department of Labor And 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 Tennessee

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,600. Employment concentration in Tennessee is about 1.37 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"Tennessee currently employs approximately 8,270 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

Tennessee machinists earn a median annual wage of $49,600 ($23.85/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 8,270 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -15.6% below the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $49,600 ($23.85/hr)
25th percentile: $43,200 per year
75th percentile: $61,220 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $70,430 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,560 per year
Workers employed in Tennessee: 8,270
Versus national median: -15.6% below the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.37 - this occupation is more concentrated in Tennessee than the national average

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

Tennessee employs approximately 8,270 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,600 ¹. The state’s concentration of cnc machinist jobs is 1.37x 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 Tennessee, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CNC Machinist in Tennessee

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

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 Tennessee? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Tennessee is $49,600 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,560 and experienced professionals can earn $70,430 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 (Tennessee): $49,600 per year ¹

CNC Machinist Apprenticeship Information in Tennessee

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

Contact Information:

Office: Apprenticeship TN
Address: 220 French Landing Dr., Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 532-0148
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	1,640	$51,430	$54,480	$40,060	$71,960
Knoxville	1,470	$49,900	$52,940	$36,670	$66,280
Memphis	1,050	$59,220	$58,390	$39,630	$74,340
Chattanooga	730	$51,540	$54,340	$37,230	$69,870
Kingsport-Bristol	450	$57,890	$56,220	$35,980	$76,010
Clarksville	360	$57,820	$57,370	$38,080	$77,630
Morristown	330	$47,370	$52,030	$33,960	$65,920
Jackson	240	$48,340	$50,180	$33,860	$66,210
Johnson City	180	$45,550	$46,900	$36,050	$59,920
Cleveland	50	$46,120	$47,950	$35,900	$61,730

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 Tennessee

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin	1,640	$51,430
Knoxville	1,470	$49,900
Memphis	1,050	$59,220
Chattanooga	730	$51,540
Kingsport-Bristol	450	$57,890

Explore cnc machinist programs in Nashville, Knoxville, and Memphis.

Explore More Trades in Tennessee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 8,270 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Tennessee? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Tennessee. You can also contact the Tennessee Department of Labor And Workforce Development - Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do cnc machinists earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Tennessee is $49,600, which is $6,550 below 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Tennessee Department of Labor And 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)