Laser cutting has become one of the most essential technologies in modern manufacturing — powering industries from aerospace and automotive to electronics and medical devices.
We’ve compiled the most up-to-date laser cutting machines statistics for 2025, covering everything from market size and growth rates to regional leaders, exports, and salaries.
Here’s what you’ll find inside:
- Global Market Value & Growth Outlook
- Trends in Fiber, CO₂, and UV Laser Technologies
- Regional Market Leaders & Trade Data
- Job Market & Salary Benchmarks
Let’s dive in!
Top Laser Cutting Machines Statistics (Editor’s Picks)
- The global laser cutting machine market is expected to hit $8.01 billion in 2025.
- Asia-Pacific (APAC) holds the largest regional market with more than 39% share (2023).
- China installed over 45,000 CO₂ laser cutting machines in 2024 alone.
- The high-power fiber lasers (over 2000 W) accounted for 62.7% of demand in 2024.
- Demand for powerful 10kW+ laser heads saw a huge 75% surge between 2023 and 2024.
- The average hourly wage for a Laser Cutter Operator in the U.S. is about $19.90
- The Industrial Sector was the largest end-user segment of laser cutting machines, accounting for roughly 39.7% of the demand for laser cutting machines in 2023.
- UV laser precision cutting is reported to reduce material waste by up to 25%.
- 39,600 CO₂ machines are deployed with robotic automation, resulting in a reported +28% productivity improvement.
- The CO₂ laser market was valued at $1.70 billion in 2024, but its CAGR is only 4.9%.
- 61,000 manufacturers globally were reported to be transitioning from CO₂ to fiber lasers in 2024.
- Solid-state laser systems (including fiber) were the biggest technology slice, capturing 43.3% of the market in 2023.
- Vietnam, the U.S., and Uzbekistan were the top importing markets for laser cutting machinery in a recent 12-month period.
How Big is the Global Laser Cutting Market?
The worldwide market for laser cutting machines is massive, expected to hit $8.01 billion in 2025. The combined market for all laser processing equipment (cutting, welding) is even bigger, valued at $12.5 billion in the same year.
This broader market is set to grow at a 7.4% annual rate (CAGR), potentially reaching $20.8 billion by 2033. China is a huge player, installing over 45,000 CO₂ laser cutting machines in 2024 alone.
Europe leads in advanced ultrafast laser technology. It holds 49% of this specific market.
US Laser Cutting Market Size
The U.S. laser cutting market was valued at about $1.32 billion in 2023. It is forecast to expand at roughly a 5.9% CAGR through 2030.
The North American laser cutting equipment market topped $2.04 billion in 2023.
Sources: Finance Yahoo, Market Reports World, Fortune Business Insights, Grand View Research, GM Insights
The Rise of Fiber and High-Power Lasers
The global fiber laser market was worth an estimated $6.87 billion in 2024. High-power lasers are driving this growth, with the segment over $2000 W accounting for 62.7% of demand in 2024.
Demand for powerful 10kW+ laser heads saw a huge 75% surge between 2023 and 2024. The highest power segment accounted for the largest fiber laser revenue share in 2024, grabbing 47.9%.
Fiber lasers are a fast-growing category, estimated to expand at about a 10.22% annual rate from 2024 to 2030. The highest cutting power on commercial systems has also risen sharply, moving from about 15 kW up to 40 kW over three years.
Sources: Grand View Research, Global Growth Insights, Straits Research, Industry Arc
Key Laser Cutting Machine Technology and Process Stats
In 2023, solid-state laser systems were the biggest technology slice, capturing roughly 43.3% of the market. Yet, the semiconductor laser segment is forecast to be the fastest-growing, with a 10.18% CAGR.
Looking at cutting methods, flame cutting was the leader in 2023, with a 43.7% share of the market. Flame cutting is also projected to post the highest process growth rate at roughly a 10.56% annual rate (CAGR).
Powerful 24kW laser machines are appearing, which can boost processing speed by up to 80%. There are over 25,000 known applications that use high-power laser cutting technology across many industries.
Sources: Grand View Research, Industry Arc, Fortune Business Insights, Zeal 3D Printing
Stats on Laser Cutting Industry Applications and Fastest Growing Sectors
The industrial sector was the largest end-user in 2023, accounting for roughly 39.7% of laser cutting demand. This includes heavy machinery and fabrication.
The consumer electronics category is expected to grow the fastest, with an estimated 6.4% CAGR from 2024 through 2030. This is driven by the need for tiny, precise cuts in devices.
The medical laser systems market was valued at $4.83 billion in 2024. It is projected to reach $7.28 billion by 2032, growing at a 5.25% CAGR.
There are over 25,000 known applications that rely on high-power laser cutting technology. This shows how essential the technology is across many fields.
Sources: Grand View Research, Data Bridge Market Research, Zeal 3d printing
Which Regions Dominate The Laser Cutting Market?
Asia-Pacific (APAC) held the biggest regional market share in 2023 at 39.7%, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5%. APAC’s laser cutting market share is forecast to command around 42% of the global market. Within APAC, India is a leading market, expected to grow at an estimated CAGR of 9.2% through 2032.
North America claimed over 25% of the market in 2023, with the U.S. alone representing roughly 73.7% of that share. The North American laser cutting equipment market was valued at over $2.04 billion in 2023, with the U.S. expected to drive regional growth with a forecasted CAGR of about 7.8% through 2032.
Europe accounted for 19.8% of the market in 2023 and is expected to grow at about a 5.1% CAGR from 2024 to 2030. Europe also holds the largest regional share of the ultrafast laser market, accounting for 49%. The U.S. laser cutting machines market was valued at about $1.32 billion in 2023 and is forecast to expand at roughly a 5.9% CAGR through 2030.
Sources: Grand View Research, Global Market Insights, Industry Arc, Fortune Business Insights, Grand View Research
Global Exports and Imports for Laser Cutting Machines
Exports
The global export trade for laser cutters involved 1,861 shipments over a recent 12-month period. China was the leading exporter, accounting for a massive 1,530 shipments in this category.
For specialized laser cutting tools, Germany led with 279 shipments in a similar period. Overall, a recent 12-month window saw a -20% change in the total number of laser cutter export shipments.
Imports
Global imports of laser cutters mirror exports with 1,861 shipments recorded in the same 12-month period. The main import markets for these cutters include the U.S., Mexico, and Peru.
For broader laser cutting machinery, import activity saw a big jump of about +52% year-over-year. In this machinery segment, top importing markets included Vietnam, the U.S., and Uzbekistan.
Sources: Volza, Volza, Volza, Volza
Key Manufacturer Sales and Financials
TRUMPF Group (a leading manufacturer) had sales revenues of $6.05 billion for the fiscal year 2023/24. This highlights the financial strength of top companies.
Sales for TRUMPF in China are expected to fall sharply by 22% in FY 2024/25. They are predicted to reach approximately $558.5 million.
Bystronic AG (another major company) saw its net sales decrease to $811 million in 2024. This represents a drop of 30.3% from the year before.
Prima Power secured $100 million in funding in 2023. This money is for expanding research and development (R&D) in laser cutting technologies.
Top 10 laser cutting machines globally
| Rank | Name | Country |
| 1 | TRUMPF | Germany |
| 2 | Amada | Japan |
| 3 | Bystronic | Switzerland |
| 4 | Mazak | Japan |
| 5 | Prima Power | Italy |
| 6 | Mitsubishi Electric | Japan |
| 7 | Coherent Corporation | USA |
| 8 | IPG Photonics | Germany |
| 9 | DMG MORI | Japan |
| 10 | LVD Group | Belgium |
Sources: TRUMPF, TRUMPF, Bystronic, Scoop Market US, Dowell Laser
Laser Cutting Machine Operators’ Salary
The average hourly wage for a Laser Cutter Operator in the U.S. is about $19.90 (as of October 2025). Pay can vary widely, with the middle 50% of workers earning between $17.07 and $21.63 per hour.
Higher pay can be found in related roles like CNC Plasma Cutter and CNC Laser Operator. The highest-paying city listed was Nome, AK, with an average annual salary of around $51,349.
Sources: Zip Recruiter
CO2 Laser Cutting Machine Statistics
The CO₂ laser market, a foundational segment of industrial cutting, continues to show substantial economic activity. The market was valued at $1,703.58 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $2,587.29 million by 2033, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.9% from 2025 to 2033.
Global Installed Base and Regional Concentration
- A total of 132,800 CO2 laser cutting machines were installed globally across 89 countries in 2024.
- The Asia–Pacific region holds the largest market share, accounting for 49% of global installations in 2024 (65,800 units).
- China leads individual country installations with 45,000 units, followed by the United States (24,600 units) and Germany (11,300 units).
Technology Adoption and Automation
- The industry favors high-power systems, with 56% of installed CO₂ units operating above 2,000 W. Typical machine power ranges from 500 W to 6,000 W, and maximum reported cutting speed is over 14,000 mm/min with a typical accuracy of ±0.1 mm.
- 2D CO₂ machines (89,000 units) remain dominant over 3D CO₂ machines (18,200 units), although 3D machines are critical for specialized sectors like automotive and aerospace.
- Automation integration is a significant trend, with 39,600 CO₂ machines deployed with robotic automation, leading to a reported +28% productivity improvement and a -17% downtime reduction.
- IoT adoption saw a +31% year-over-year growth, with 36,000 machines now connected to central monitoring, yielding an average maintenance saving of USD 1,200 per machine per year through predictive diagnostics.
Application and Competitive Landscape
- The largest application segments are General Machinery (51,000 units) and the Automotive Industry (31,200 units). CO₂ lasers remain essential for processing non-metal materials (polymers, MDF, textiles), accounting for 21,800 units.
- The SME segment is supported by the sale of 12,600 compact CO₂ systems in 2024, with an average entry-level price below USD 7,500.
- The market is experiencing a shift: 6,800 companies and 61,000 manufacturers globally were reported to be transitioning from CO₂ to fiber lasers in 2024, driven by the CO₂ systems’ approximately 18% higher electricity usage compared to fiber lasers.
Sources: Market Reports World
UV Laser Cutting Machine Statistics
UV lasers are emerging as a high-growth technology, primarily due to their “cold cutting” capability, which is crucial for heat-sensitive and micro-precision applications.
Market Growth and Regional Dynamics
- The UV laser cutting market was valued at USD 450 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 1.2 billion by 2033, with a forecast CAGR of 12.5% (2026–2033).
- The market structure in 2023 was led by North America (35% market contribution), followed by Asia Pacific (30%) and Europe (20%). However, the Asia Pacific region is cited as the fastest-growing regional market.
Key Applications and Precision
- The dominant application segment for UV lasers is Electronics, accounting for 40% of the application share in 2023. This is driven by the need for ultra-high precision in manufacturing complex and miniaturized components.
- The precision cutting afforded by UV lasers is reported to reduce material waste by up to 25%, highlighting its value in lean and efficient manufacturing processes.
Sources: Verified Market Reports
