There are several things that you must understand when talking about money and CMM's. First, you do have higher education, that's a plus. You do lack experience though.

Are you well versed with GD&T and how to apply it [properly] when using a CMM for product conformance?? Can you validate a measurement accurately without using the CMM?? Have you ever done surface plate layout??

I have no degree, but I have approx. 18 years experience in quality, I can program 4 different makes of CMM's, can do surface plate layout, calibrate gages, do complex measurements AND back them up accurately with another method of measurement. I have about 14 years experience with CMM's, manual and CNC with or without probe changers.

My annual income is around 65K/year and that includes OT and a little money on the side from programming on contract basis.