It does make a difference were you live I live in California and the pay can be different.
I make usually $42.00 + and hour for just programming and some times setup.
As a contract programmer I get $65.00 hr.
At the shop I am at now I get more then $50. hr so it matters what you can program and do. I can do mills ,lathes , water jets, robots, lasers and on the mill side verticals ,horizontals and 4th and 5th axis. but to make in the $20.00+ range is a range I see in allot of shops for what you are stating. may we ask what you make now, really lets is it less the $20.00 hr. hope this is helpful.
You can see you can make good monies in some areas but it does take years in most cases and hard work. So keep it up.
PS what state are you in.
(Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)
Cadcam
Software and hardware sales, contract Programming and Consultant , Cad-Cam Instructor .