Pay

[[Cl...]]

I'd like to revisit an old topic. Without getting too specific. If you don't want to answer
I understand. For those of you that have been programming CMM's for more than 15
years, are you making between > $25 & $30 an hour? Or are you making more?

[[Ro...]]

Sent PM. You need to be in the 30+ range.

[[Ke...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

More.
I have to believe that the pay can be more competetive than the $25-$30 range in the Grand Rapids area.

[[Ma...]]

More

[[De...]]

Definitely more, but those higher paying opportunities take longer to find usually. For every opportunity I apply for, there are 30 I don't, or so it seems.

[[Je...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

.
Clarke,

This is a hot topic 🔥💰. I think it would be value-added for users on the forum to revisit this periodically, since the role of the CMM Programmer / Metrologist is evolving.

The skill level and responsibility assigned to CMM programmers often resembles that of a mid to senior level engineer.

There's a lot more to say about this, but since it's Friday afternoon on a holiday weekend I'll summarize with this statement:

In 2024, I advise peers in the Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota that they should be making no less than $40+/hour with opportunity for career growth. This applies to capable programmers with 3+ years of direct programming experience and a working knowledge of GD&T.

The compensation in the following position description, which a recruiter recently sent my way, is becoming more common rather than an outlier:

.

.


Compensation is highly linked to location, a fact that I did not apply enough empathy towards when I posted a salary poll on this forum a few years ago.

However, it's important to know your worth. Employers often undervalue and overlook a programmer who has been siloed faithfully in the same company for years.

Your skillset is in hiiiiiigh demand.



.

[[Da...]]

More, for years (8+)now

[[Ri...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

Your location should not depict your pay level, your skill should.
Employers love to do that, "Oh we are in a low cost of living area, so we pay less".
When you get that, end the interview and walk away.

[[Cl...]]

I retire from this job in <3 years. The other problem is that almost all the places that are hiring in my area are
only 40 hours. They do offer much more money per hour, but I still make more because of our 50-hr. work week.
So, unless something dramatically changes, I'll just wait it out and quietly walk away into the sunset.

[[Wo...]]

Please sign in to view this quote.

That's my situation too. The only difference is that I still have 30+ years to go haha.

[[Ow...]]

More here in the 5th lowest cost of living state in the nation.
Pay here and anywhere almost always correlates with experience and capabilities. I do a lot more than just program CMM’s.

[[Lo...]]

I am in my 4th year of experience with the CMM I program and run. Love the programming and operation of this machine.
My pay is within the $25-$30 hr with overtime. The bad part of this is I have other QC tasks on my plate and can go weeks where I don't turn the CMM on. That is frustrating on top of getting a huge amount of push back from a manager that hates Zeiss with a passion, it gets very frustrating some times. Sorry for venting!

Lou