Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
Operate computer-controlled tools, machines, or robots to machine or process parts, tools, or other work pieces made of metal, plastic, wood, stone, or other materials. May also set up and maintain equipment.
Most important skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Quality Control Analysis
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Troubleshooting
Key knowledge
- Mathematics
- Production and Processing
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Education and Training
- Design
- Administration and Management
What the work involves
- Measure dimensions of finished workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments, templates, and fixtures.
- Remove and replace dull cutting tools.
- Mount, install, align, and secure tools, attachments, fixtures, and workpieces on machines, using hand tools and precision measuring instruments.
- Listen to machines during operation to detect sounds such as those made by dull cutting tools or excessive vibration, and adjust machines to compensate for problems.
- Adjust machine feed and speed, change cutting tools, or adjust machine controls when automatic programming is faulty or if machines malfunction.
- Stop machines to remove finished workpieces or to change tooling, setup, or workpiece placement, according to required machining sequences.
- Lift workpieces to machines manually or with hoists or cranes.
- Modify cutting programs to account for problems encountered during operation, and save modified programs.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Realistic, Conventional, Investigative.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (48.2% of respondents)
- Related experience
- None (29.4%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (24.6%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 2: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Low | Lower on contact with others than 74% of occupations compared | 51% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Very low | Lower on dealing with the public than 94% of occupations compared | 41% of surveyed respondents chose “Not important at all” |
| Teamwork | Very low | Lower on teamwork than 83% of occupations compared | 42% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Moderate | Lower on freedom to make decisions than 59% of occupations compared | 39% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom” |
| Time pressure | Very high | Higher on time pressure than 87% of occupations compared | 62% of surveyed respondents chose “Every day” |
| Conflict situations | Low | Lower on conflict situations than 66% of occupations compared | 41% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 72% of occupations compared | 34% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | High | Higher on consequence of error than 68% of occupations compared | 36% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: very high
- Conflict situations: low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: low
- Consequence of error: high
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 14.12%
- Contact with others about half the time: 19.25%
- Contact with others most of the time: 15.64%
- Constant contact with others: 50.99%
n = 32, Incumbent 08/2023
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 40.96%
- Fairly important: 34.16%
- Important: 20.86%
- Very important: 1.34%
- Extremely important: 2.68%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2023
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 1.59%
- Fairly important: 21.58%
- Important: 18.42%
- Very important: 16.69%
- Extremely important: 41.71%
n = 32, Incumbent 08/2023
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 2.04%
- Very little freedom: 6.83%
- Limited freedom: 14.59%
- Some freedom: 37.91%
- A lot of freedom: 38.63%
n = 32, Incumbent 08/2023
Time pressure
- Never: 2.04%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 3.06%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 9.34%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 23.06%
- Every day: 62.49%
n = 32, Incumbent 08/2023
Conflict situations
- Never: 20.69%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 40.73%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 6.63%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 22.12%
- Every day: 9.84%
n = 30, Incumbent 08/2023
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 27.76%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 33.87%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 18.53%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 9.68%
- Every day: 10.16%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2023
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 16.51%
- Fairly serious: 13.31%
- Serious: 20.16%
- Very serious: 13.72%
- Extremely serious: 36.29%
n = 31, Incumbent 08/2023
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O*NET-SOC 51-9161.00 · SOC 51-9161 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8