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Students training in a machinist program

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CNC & machining programs in Virginia

Virginia has 9 accredited campuses awarding machinist credentials. If you finish and work as a machinist in Virginia, expect to start around $45,120–$49,900 and reach a median of $61,290 with experience; the top quarter earn $71,470 or more (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025, Virginia). Graduates of these Virginia programs — every graduate, whatever job they took — earned a median of $31,371 in their first year, against $36,340 nationally; that is the figure used to rank campuses below.

What machinists earn in Virginia

$45,120starting (10th percentile)
$49,900early career (25th)
$61,290median, all experience
$71,470experienced (75th)
$86,380top earners (90th)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; 5,660 employed in Virginia. National median: $58,750.

Campuses in Virginia, ranked by what their graduates earned

9campuses in Virginia
159credentials awarded / yr
$31,371median earnings, yr 1 (Virginia)
$36,340median earnings, yr 1 (U.S.)

Cities: AbingdonCedar BluffChesterDanvilleDublinLynchburgMartinsvilleNorfolkWytheville

CampusCityTypeGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Program debtCompletionCost / yr
Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public 3 $35,934 $7,500 32% not reported
New River Community College Dublin Public 15 $31,371 not reported 50% not reported
Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville Public 4 $31,323 not reported 42% not reported
Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public 70 not reported not reported 45% not reported
Danville Community College Danville Public 32 not reported not reported 39% not reported
Wytheville Community College Wytheville Public 13 not reported not reported 47% not reported
Brightpoint Community College Chester Public 10 not reported not reported 38% not reported
Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon Public 8 not reported not reported 40% not reported
Southwest Virginia Community College Cedar Bluff Public 4 not reported not reported 46% 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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