What apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists in Virginia?

In Virginia, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered 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 Virginia (2026)

Q: How much do cnc machinists earn in Virginia?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in Virginia earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,290. Employment concentration in Virginia is roughly 0.75 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 Virginia?

Virginia currently employs approximately 5,660 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

Virginia machinists earn a median annual wage of $61,290 ($29.47/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,660 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.3% above the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,290 ($29.47/hr)
25th percentile: $49,900 per year
75th percentile: $71,470 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $86,380 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,120 per year
Workers employed in Virginia: 5,660
Versus national median: 4.3% above the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.75 - this occupation is less concentrated in Virginia than the national average

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

Virginia employs about 5,660 cnc machinists earning a median $61,290 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most cnc machinists train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Virginia.

Compare CNC Machinist Schools in Virginia

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	Johnston Community College	64.4	$2,756 in-state / $8,900 out-of-state	$48,144	37%	Yes*	124 mi
2	Central Carolina Community College	60.6	$2,711 in-state / $8,855 out-of-state	$42,844	43%	Yes*	127 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Surry Community College	57.7	$2,668 in-state / $8,812 out-of-state	$43,856	6%	Yes*	128 mi
4	Wayne Community College	53.6	$2,566 in-state / $8,710 out-of-state	$45,147	49%	Yes*	136 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Forsyth Technical Community College	52.9	$2,276 in-state / $6,884 out-of-state	$48,625	34%	Yes*	121 mi
6	Randolph Community College	51.7	$2,416 in-state / $8,176 out-of-state	$39,546	58%	Yes*	127 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Davidson-Davie Community College	51.6	$1,980 in-state / $6,588 out-of-state	$44,533	46%	Yes*	128 mi
8	Alamance Community College	50.9	$2,592 in-state / $8,736 out-of-state	$41,411	39%	Yes*	91 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Durham Technical Community College	49.8	$1,986 in-state / $6,594 out-of-state	$57,868	45%	Yes*	90 mi
10	Rockingham Community College	43.0	$1,966 in-state / $6,574 out-of-state	$44,278	35%	—	85 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.

Virginia employs approximately 5,660 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,290 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 Virginia, 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 (Virginia): $61,290 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a CNC Machinist in Virginia

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

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 Virginia? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Virginia is $61,290 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,120 and experienced professionals can earn $86,380 or more ¹.

How to Become a CNC Machinist in Virginia

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia

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

Contact Information:

Office: Division of Registered Apprenticeship, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry
Address: 6606 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: (804) 786-6030
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in Virginia

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	2,350	$62,900	$62,430	$48,880	$76,540
Richmond	650	$62,650	$67,950	$46,890	$95,800
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria	620	$68,850	$75,140	$48,820	$113,750
Lynchburg	480	$61,140	$65,190	$44,440	$90,390
Kingsport-Bristol	450	$57,890	$56,220	$35,980	$76,010
Roanoke	290	$52,000	$57,610	$42,620	$89,320
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford	230	$59,920	$58,200	$44,690	$79,340
Staunton-Stuarts Draft	130	$60,410	$62,900	$47,270	$79,980
Winchester	100	$49,130	$55,990	$41,490	$76,660
Harrisonburg	60	$49,900	$54,250	$39,210	$73,570
Charlottesville	50	$55,600	$56,040	$34,510	$80,040

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 Virginia? Virginia currently employs approximately 5,660 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do cnc machinists earn in Virginia compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Virginia is $61,290, which is $5,140 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data ¹.

In Virginia

Best Trade Schools in Virginia (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Virginia

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Virginia Department of Labor and Industry - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.doli.virginia.gov/apprenticeship/sponsor-list/ ↩︎

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)