Salary data is based on the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area and applied to Cambridge using local cost-of-living adjustments.

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers Salaries in Cambridge, MA

Average Base Pay

$81,000/yr

17% above national average

Monthly

$6,750

Hourly

$39

Cost Index

152

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in Cambridge, MA earn an average of $81,000 per year, with most salaries falling between $64,800 and $97,200 depending on experience, employer, and specialization. At 17% above the national average, Cambridge ranks among the higher-paying markets for this role, in part reflecting a local cost of living index of 152. For professionals evaluating a move or negotiating an offer, the headline salary is only part of the picture—what matters most is how far that income actually goes once taxes, rent, and daily expenses are factored in. The sections below break that down in full for Cambridge.

Salary Range

The chart below shows the full compensation spectrum for this role, from entry-level to senior positions. The highlighted center bars represent the 25th–75th percentile band where most professionals are paid.

$61K
Low

$81K
Median

$101K
High

25th percentile: $69K75th percentile: $93K

About Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

Manufacturing Engineers develop, implement, and improve manufacturing processes that transform raw materials and components into finished products efficiently, safely, and to quality standards. They design and commission production lines, select manufacturing equipment, develop process parameters and work instructions, and troubleshoot production problems. In new product introduction, manufacturing engineers collaborate with product design teams from early development to ensure that product designs are manufacturable—flagging design features that are difficult or costly to produce and proposing design changes that improve producibility. They conduct process validation studies demonstrating that processes consistently produce output within specifications, write manufacturing process documentation, and develop operator training materials. Process improvement is continuous: manufacturing engineers collect and analyze production data, identify sources of scrap, yield loss, and cycle time inefficiency, and implement lean manufacturing improvements including 5S, standardized work, and error-proofing (poka-yoke). In regulated industries such as medical devices or pharmaceuticals, they manage process validation per FDA and ISO requirements.

What Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers Do

Design and implement manufacturing processes for new or existing products
Select, specify, and commission manufacturing equipment and tooling
Develop process parameters, work instructions, and operator training materials
Conduct process capability studies and manufacturing process validation
Troubleshoot production quality and efficiency problems
Collaborate with product design on design for manufacturability
Lead lean manufacturing improvement projects (5S, kaizen, standard work)
Manage process documentation and engineering change control

Key Skills & Qualifications

Manufacturing process design and optimization
CAD software for fixture and tooling design
Statistical process control (SPC) and process capability analysis
Lean manufacturing tools (5S, Kanban, SMED, poka-yoke)
Design for manufacturability and assembly (DFM/DFA)
Process validation methodology (IQ/OQ/PQ)
PLC and automation fundamentals
Engineering change management and document control

Career Path

Manufacturing Engineer I
Manufacturing Engineer II
Senior Manufacturing Engineer
Lead Manufacturing Engineer / Process Engineering Manager
Director of Manufacturing Engineering

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers Market in Cambridge, MA

Salary Competitiveness

Cambridge is one of the stronger-paying markets for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers, with local salaries running approximately 17% above the national median. This premium typically reflects a combination of higher employer competition, concentrated industry presence, and elevated cost expectations built into local compensation norms.

Cost of Living Impact

The cost of living in Cambridge is well above the national average, and essential monthly expenses consume roughly 83% of take-home pay for this role. That compression means a higher gross salary buys less financial breathing room than the headline number suggests—particularly for housing, which tends to dominate the budget in high-cost markets.

Effective Purchasing Power

Despite a competitive gross salary, a Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers earning $81,000 in Cambridge operates in a tight purchasing-power band once taxes and local cost of living are applied. Careful planning around housing, transportation, and discretionary spending is essential to avoid running negative disposable income month to month.

vs. National Avg

+17%

Cost Pressure

83%

Purchasing Power

Tight

Take-Home Pay Calculator

Enter any gross salary to see how federal and state taxes affect your actual take-home pay, broken down by year, month, and week. Results use an estimated effective tax rate of 27% based on this location and income level.

Annual Salary

Take-home (73%)Taxes (27%)

Annual Net

$59,130

Monthly

$4,928

Weekly

$1,137

Eff. Tax Rate

27%

A gross salary of $81,000 for a Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in Cambridge translates to roughly $4,928 in monthly take-home pay after estimated federal and state taxes. Set against monthly living costs of $4,093—covering housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare—that leaves approximately $835 per month in disposable income. That margin, not the gross number, is what determines whether you can comfortably cover rent, build savings, and afford discretionary spending in Cambridge's current market.

How far does this salary go in Cambridge?

Cost of Living in Cambridge

Estimated monthly expenses for a single person in Cambridge, benchmarked against US regional price indices for housing, food, transportation, utilities, and healthcare.

Cost Index

152

High — US average is 100. Based on a single person (1-bed apartment).

🏠Housing / Rent$2,650/mo

🍔Food & Groceries$650/mo

🚗Transportation$160/mo

💡Utilities$225/mo

🏥Healthcare$408/mo

Monthly$4,093

Annual$49,116

Disposable Income$835

Financial Reality Check

This section compares estimated monthly take-home pay against typical living costs in Cambridge to show your real disposable income—the amount remaining after essential bills are paid each month.

Monthly Take-Home

$4,928

Living Costs

$4,093

Disposable

$835

Cost Index

152

Lifestyle

Tight

With a monthly take-home of $4,928, your estimated living costs in Cambridge are $4,093 ($49,116/yr). This leaves $835 per month in disposable income, indicating a tight standard of living. Cambridge's cost of living is 52% above the national average.

Overall, a Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers earning $81,000 in Cambridge falls into a tight lifestyle tier and will need to budget carefully—essential costs consume a significant share of take-home pay, leaving limited room for savings or emergencies. With a cost index of 152, Cambridge is 52% more expensive than the national average, which compresses real purchasing power. Regardless of tier, prioritizing retirement contributions, an emergency fund of three to six months' expenses, and incremental debt reduction will yield the greatest long-term financial stability—especially as living costs in Cambridge continue to evolve.