What the work involves, what it pays, and real lines you can start from. Answer a few small questions and leave with a resume.
Also called cad programmer, cam programmer, cnc lathe programmer and cnc lathe programmer operator.
$68,120
Median pay a year
28,500
People do this work
6
Resume lines ready for you
Pay and headcount are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lines are written from what the US Department of Labor records about this work.
An example
A Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer resume, filled in
Every line below comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer
Summary
Computer numerically controlled tool programmer developing programs to control machines and processing materials, setting up and maintaining equipment while analyzing job orders and creating geometric layouts
Experience
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer
Where you worked
Month Year to Month Year
Determined the sequence of machine operations and selected cutting tools for workpieces
Analyzed job orders, drawings, and blueprints to calculate dimensions and tool selection
Wrote programs for machine controllers and stored them on tapes or disks
Observed machines on trial runs to ensure proper function and item specifications
Revised programs to fix errors and retested them to ensure problems were solved
Performed preventative maintenance and minor repairs on machines
Prepared geometric layouts using computer drafting software or graph paper
Skills
Core Skills
Programming equipment, Determining equipment settings, Entering specifications into equipment, Studying blueprints or instructions, Conducting test runs of equipment, Calculating equipment, Creating diagrams for workpieces
Checking & Planning
Inspecting completed work, Verifying information or specifications, Selecting production equipment
Education
High School Diploma Your school, Year
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What to put on a Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer resume
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What did you do each day?
Choose what fits, or say your own.
Decided machine operation stepsChecked job orders and blueprintsWatched machines during test runsWrote programs for machine controllersEntered commands to save patternsFixed programs to remove errors
becomes
On your resume
Decided machine operation steps based on job orders and blueprints to ensure efficient production processes
Monitored machines during test runs to ensure proper operation and identify any issues.
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Add how many job orders you analyzed for this.
The line
Determined machine operation steps for several job orders each week to ensure efficient production processes
Add how many job orders you analyzed for this.
Pick one that fits
Several each weekA few every dayMost of the projects I worked on
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In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
Added to your resume
Show what improved once you monitored the machines.
The line
Monitored machines during test runs to ensure proper operation and identify any issues.
Show what improved once you monitored the machines.
Pick one that fits
Smoother operation of machinesFaster setup times for tests
Or add your own.
In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
Added to your resume
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What it is made of
Skills for a Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer resume
What this work is made of. Rung offers these and keeps the ones you claim.
What are you good at?
Programming equipment
Determining equipment settings
Entering specifications into equipment
Studying blueprints or instructions
Inspecting completed work
Conducting test runs of equipment
Calculating equipment
Verifying information or specifications
Selecting production equipment
Creating diagrams for workpieces
Planning production procedures
Aligning equipment
The work itself
What a Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer does
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
Develop programs to control machining or processing of materials by automatic machine tools, equipment, or systems. May also set up, operate, or maintain equipment.
What it pays
How much does a Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer make?
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
25th percentile
$58,270
Median
$68,120
75th percentile
$81,890
About 28,500 people do this work in the United States.
This page is about the occupation Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. Rung is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either agency. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.