Career comparison
CNC Machinist vs. Welder
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
CNC machinists earn more at the median ($58,750 vs. $53,750), while welders usually get to work faster (3–18 months of training). CNC machinists set up and run computer-controlled machines that cut precision metal parts. Welders join and cut metal with MIG, TIG and stick welding for construction and manufacturing.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| CNC Machinist | Welder | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $58,750 ($28.24/hr) | $53,750 ($25.84/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $39,200 – $80,010 | $39,240 – $77,530 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.0% (slower than average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 26,100 | 40,300 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 6–24 months | 3–18 months |
| Key credential | NIMS credentials | AWS Certified Welder |
| Work setting | Machinists work in machine shops and factories. | Welders work in fabrication shops, factories, shipyards, construction sites and refineries, sometimes outdoors or at heights. |
What each job does
CNC Machinist
- Read blueprints, GD&T and setup sheets
- Set up CNC mills and lathes, including fixtures, tools and offsets
- Load programs and run machines
- Measure parts with precision instruments and adjust offsets
- Perform first-article and in-process inspections
Welder
- Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols
- Prepare, clean and fit metal parts
- Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings
- Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
- Cut metal with oxy-fuel or plasma torches
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, indoor work, working independently, and steady routines. They sit in different fields, mechanics, maintenance & manufacturing and skilled trades & construction, but share transferable skills such as attention to detail and steady hands and focus.
Which should you choose?
Choose CNC machinist if…
- I enjoy precise, careful work
- I like math and measurements
- I’m comfortable around machines
Choose welder if…
- I like making things with my hands
- I have a steady hand and patience for precise work
- Heat, sparks and noise don’t bother me
Still torn? Take the CNC Machinist fit quiz and the Welder fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, CNC machinist or welder?
CNC Machinists earn more at the median: $58,750 versus $53,750 for welders, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Welders typically train faster (3–18 months) than CNC machinists (6–24 months).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects welders to grow +2.4% from 2025–35, compared with +1.0% for CNC machinists.