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CNC & machining programs in North Carolina

North Carolina has 34 accredited campuses awarding machinist credentials. If you finish and work as a machinist in North Carolina, expect to start around $37,110–$45,300 and reach a median of $55,230 with experience; the top quarter earn $62,680 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, North Carolina). Graduates of these North Carolina programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $37,230 in their first year, against $36,340 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.

What machinists earn in North Carolina

$37,110starting (10th percentile)
$45,300early career (25th)
$55,230median, all experience
$62,680experienced (75th)
$75,570top earners (90th)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 8,330 employed in North Carolina. National median: $58,750.

Campuses in North Carolina, ranked by what their graduates earned

34campuses in North Carolina
441credentials awarded / yr
$37,230median earnings, yr 1 (North Carolina)
$36,340median earnings, yr 1 (U.S.)

Cities: AlbemarleAsheboroAshevilleCharlotteClydeDallasDobsonDurhamElizabeth CityFayettevilleFlat RockGoldsboroGrahamHamletHickoryJamestownKinstonMarionMooresvilleMorgantonNew BernRocky MountSalisburySanfordShelbySmithfieldSpindaleStatesvilleThomasvilleWentworthWilmingtonWinston-SalemWinterville

CampusCityTypeGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Program debtCompletionCost / yr
Pitt Community College Winterville Public 2 $39,194 not reported 35% not reported
Alamance Community College Graham Public 1 $37,230 not reported 39% not reported
NASCAR Technical Institute Mooresville for-profit 62 $35,637 $9,500 65% $33,485
Gaston College Dallas Public 24 not reported not reported 63% not reported
Randolph Community College Asheboro Public 23 not reported not reported 58% not reported
Catawba Valley Community College Hickory Public 22 not reported not reported 35% not reported
Wayne Community College Goldsboro Public 22 not reported not reported 49% not reported
Craven Community College New Bern Public 20 not reported not reported 48% not reported
Davidson-Davie Community College Thomasville Public 20 not reported not reported 46% not reported
Richmond Community College Hamlet Public 20 not reported not reported 46% not reported
Surry Community College Dobson Public 20 not reported not reported 6.4% not reported
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock Public 17 not reported not reported 50% not reported
Isothermal Community College Spindale Public 17 not reported not reported 56% not reported
College of the Albemarle Elizabeth City Public 16 not reported not reported 35% not reported
Lenoir Community College Kinston Public 15 not reported not reported 36% not reported
Rockingham Community College Wentworth Public 15 not reported not reported 35% not reported
Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown Public 14 not reported not reported 31% not reported
Forsyth Technical Community College Winston-Salem Public 13 not reported not reported 34% not reported
Fayetteville Technical Community College Fayetteville Public 12 not reported not reported 24% not reported
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College Asheville Public 11 not reported not reported 40% not reported
Central Carolina Community College Sanford Public 11 not reported not reported 43% not reported
Cape Fear Community College Wilmington Public 10 not reported not reported 35% not reported
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte Charlotte for-profit 8 not reported not reported 70% not reported
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Salisbury Public 7 not reported not reported 35% not reported
Haywood Community College Clyde Public 6 not reported not reported 34% not reported
Cleveland Community College Shelby Public 5 not reported not reported 32% not reported
Johnston Community College Smithfield Public 5 not reported not reported 37% not reported
McDowell Technical Community College Marion Public 5 not reported not reported 48% not reported
Mitchell Community College Statesville Public 5 not reported not reported 28% not reported
Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte Public 4 not reported not reported 31% not reported
Durham Technical Community College Durham Public 3 not reported not reported 45% not reported
Western Piedmont Community College Morganton Public 3 not reported not reported 49% not reported
Nash Community College Rocky Mount Public 2 not reported not reported 41% not reported
Stanly Community College Albemarle Public 1 not reported not reported 48% not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Ranked by median earnings of this program's graduates one year after completion (College Scorecard field-of-study, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026); campuses without a reported figure follow, by credentials awarded. "Program debt" is the median federal loan debt for graduates of this program at this campus. Completion is the campus-wide 150%-of-time rate. "Not reported" means the federal file suppresses the value for privacy.

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