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$69,370
High-end Earners in
North Carolina ( Top 10% )
$46,360
median annual wage
$22
median hourly wage
Responsibilities
  • What do they typically do:
  • Develop plans or layouts utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) software
  • Work with architects or engineers to create accurate design for products
  • Include precise details such as the dimensions and materials
  • Communicate with the company about codes, standards and specifications
  • Conduct product design, development and testing
  • Observe machines on trial runs or conduct computer simulations to make sure that programs and machinery will work properly
  • Decide about the sequence of machine operations, and select the proper cutting tools for machining workpieces into desired shapes
  • Write instruction sheets and cutter lists for a machine's controller to guide setup and encode numerical control tapes
  • Determine reference points, machine cutting paths, or hole locations, and compute angular and linear dimensions, radii, and curvatures
  • Write programs in the language of a machine's controller and store programs on media
  • Design data to make proper calculations after analyzing job orders, drawings, blueprints, specifications, and printed circuit board pattern films
  • Compare encoded tapes or computer printouts with original part specifications and blueprints to make sure instructions are accurate
  • Revise programs or tapes to get rid of errors, and retest programs to check that problems have been solved
North Carolina Job Outlook
1,441
Average annual job openings
11,718
Number of jobs by 2030
+2%
Expected growth from 2024 to 2030
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