51 Series · SOC 51-4031
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $46,330
- Median / year
- $65,510
- Top 10% earn
- -12.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 171,200
- US workers
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $46,330 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $46,330, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,760 (10th percentile) to $65,510 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 171,200 US workers. Oregon pays the most ($53,680), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn a median of $46,330, putting them among the lower-paid US occupations and higher than 23% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #61 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 12.1% by 2033.
- $46,330
- Median annual wage
- Top 77%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #61 of 105
- in Production
- 1.8×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Oregon at $53,680. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (SOC 51-4031) pays a national median of $46,330 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $35,760 at the 10th percentile to $65,510 at the 90th, with a mean of $48,430 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 171,200 Americans work in this occupation across 50 reporting states and 384 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -12.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 14,400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 3.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 3.2 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Oregon pays the highest state median at $53,680, which is +16% above the national figure. The top metro is Flint, MI at $78,600 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 171,200 jobs Median $46,330/yr
Median Salary
$46,330
per year
Median Hourly
$22.27/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$48,430
average
Employment
171,200
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$46,330 Bottom 23% higher than 23% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 22 51-series occupations with growth data, Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic sits on the slower-growing side at -12.1% growth and $46,330 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-12.1%
Declining
Annual Openings
14,400
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
3.5/100K
Injury Rate
3.2/100
Danger Index
14.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Operations Monitoring 3.5
Operation and Control 3.4
Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Monitoring 3.0
Troubleshooting 3.0
Quality Control Analysis 3.0
Judgment and Decision Making 2.9
Reading Comprehension 2.8
Knowledge Areas
Production and Processing 3.3
Mechanical 3.0
English Language 3.0
Mathematics 2.4
Engineering and Technology 2.4
Education and Training 2.3
Design 2.1
Computers and Electronics 2.0
Transportation 1.8
Chemistry 1.8
Key Tasks
- ▸ Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.
- ▸ Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws.
- ▸ Lubricate workpieces with oil.
- ▸ Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances.
- ▸ Install, align, and lock specified punches, dies, cutting blades, or other fixtures in rams or beds of machines, using gauges, templates, feelers, shims, and hand tools.
- ▸ Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data.
- ▸ Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
- ▸ Adjust ram strokes of presses to specified lengths, using hand tools.
- ▸ Position, align, and secure workpieces against fixtures or stops on machine beds or on dies.
- ▸ Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$35,760
25th Percentile
$38,870
Median
$46,330
75th Percentile
$55,410
90th Percentile
$65,510
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 50 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $53,680 | +16% above national |
| 2 | Maine | $51,820 | +12% above national |
| 3 | Washington | $51,160 | +10% above national |
| 4 | Colorado | $50,790 | +10% above national |
| 5 | Minnesota | $49,770 | +7% above national |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $49,270 | +6% above national |
| 7 | Alaska | $49,010 | +6% above national |
| 8 | Illinois | $48,990 | +6% above national |
| 9 | Nebraska | $48,690 | +5% above national |
| 10 | Montana | $48,490 | +5% above national |
| 11 | California | $48,450 | +5% above national |
| 12 | North Dakota | $48,400 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Missouri | $48,310 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Iowa | $48,240 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $48,170 | +4% above national |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $48,110 | +4% above national |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $47,860 | +3% above national |
| 18 | Nevada | $47,690 | +3% above national |
| 19 | Maryland | $47,320 | +2% above national |
| 20 | Virginia | $47,300 | +2% above national |
| 21 | Indiana | $46,980 | +1% above national |
| 22 | New York | $46,930 | +1% above national |
| 23 | Wyoming | $46,890 | +1% above national |
| 24 | Kansas | $46,840 | +1% above national |
| 25 | Utah | $46,670 | +1% above national |
| 26 | Arizona | $46,610 | +1% above national |
| 27 | Connecticut | $46,280 | same as national |
| 28 | Michigan | $46,120 | same as national |
| 29 | South Dakota | $46,060 | 1% below national |
| 30 | Kentucky | $45,760 | 1% below national |
| 31 | Massachusetts | $45,760 | 1% below national |
| 32 | New Jersey | $45,680 | 1% below national |
| 33 | Arkansas | $45,580 | 2% below national |
| 34 | Ohio | $45,230 | 2% below national |
| 35 | Georgia | $45,080 | 3% below national |
| 36 | Tennessee | $44,780 | 3% below national |
| 37 | South Carolina | $44,420 | 4% below national |
| 38 | Alabama | $43,830 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Vermont | $43,560 | 6% below national |
| 40 | North Carolina | $43,400 | 6% below national |
| 41 | West Virginia | $43,070 | 7% below national |
| 42 | Texas | $42,720 | 8% below national |
| 43 | Delaware | $41,640 | 10% below national |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $40,930 | 12% below national |
| 45 | Louisiana | $40,870 | 12% below national |
| 46 | Mississippi | $40,650 | 12% below national |
| 47 | Idaho | $39,580 | 15% below national |
| 48 | Florida | $39,440 | 15% below national |
| 49 | New Mexico | $39,430 | 15% below national |
| 50 | Puerto Rico | $24,090 | 48% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 384 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flint, MI | $78,600 | +70% above national |
| 2 | Rome, GA | $63,740 | +38% above national |
| 3 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $62,250 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $61,610 | +33% above national |
| 5 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,230 | +30% above national |
| 6 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $60,080 | +30% above national |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $59,380 | +28% above national |
| 8 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $59,300 | +28% above national |
| 9 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58,580 | +26% above national |
| 10 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $58,240 | +26% above national |
| 11 | Mankato, MN | $57,850 | +25% above national |
| 12 | Lincoln, NE | $57,780 | +25% above national |
| 13 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $57,570 | +24% above national |
| 14 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $57,560 | +24% above national |
| 15 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $57,290 | +24% above national |
| 16 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $57,110 | +23% above national |
| 17 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $56,670 | +22% above national |
| 18 | Albany, OR | $56,410 | +22% above national |
| 19 | Saginaw, MI | $55,630 | +20% above national |
| 20 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $54,920 | +19% above national |
| 21 | Sandusky, OH | $54,770 | +18% above national |
| 22 | Reading, PA | $54,760 | +18% above national |
| 23 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $54,370 | +17% above national |
| 24 | Bend, OR | $53,680 | +16% above national |
| 25 | Modesto, CA | $53,600 | +16% above national |
| 26 | Appleton, WI | $53,560 | +16% above national |
| 27 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $53,180 | +15% above national |
| 28 | Sheboygan, WI | $52,850 | +14% above national |
| 29 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $52,840 | +14% above national |
| 30 | Rochester, MN | $52,830 | +14% above national |
| 31 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $52,780 | +14% above national |
| 32 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $52,710 | +14% above national |
| 33 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $52,630 | +14% above national |
| 34 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $52,630 | +14% above national |
| 35 | Vallejo, CA | $52,360 | +13% above national |
| 36 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $52,230 | +13% above national |
| 37 | Boulder, CO | $51,980 | +12% above national |
| 38 | Fond du Lac, WI | $51,780 | +12% above national |
| 39 | Glens Falls, NY | $51,630 | +11% above national |
| 40 | Jonesboro, AR | $51,610 | +11% above national |
| 41 | Pueblo, CO | $51,590 | +11% above national |
| 42 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $51,580 | +11% above national |
| 43 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $51,160 | +10% above national |
| 44 | Kenosha, WI | $51,130 | +10% above national |
| 45 | Columbia, MO | $51,080 | +10% above national |
| 46 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $51,050 | +10% above national |
| 47 | Ithaca, NY | $50,980 | +10% above national |
| 48 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $50,920 | +10% above national |
| 49 | Green Bay, WI | $50,820 | +10% above national |
| 50 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $50,770 | +10% above national |
| 51 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $50,660 | +9% above national |
| 52 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $50,610 | +9% above national |
| 53 | Napa, CA | $50,510 | +9% above national |
| 54 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $50,460 | +9% above national |
| 55 | Salem, OR | $50,330 | +9% above national |
| 56 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $50,230 | +8% above national |
| 57 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $50,000 | +8% above national |
| 58 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $49,980 | +8% above national |
| 59 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $49,880 | +8% above national |
| 60 | Dubuque, IA | $49,740 | +7% above national |
| 61 | Amarillo, TX | $49,690 | +7% above national |
| 62 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $49,610 | +7% above national |
| 63 | Omaha, NE-IA | $49,610 | +7% above national |
| 64 | Reno, NV | $49,600 | +7% above national |
| 65 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $49,600 | +7% above national |
| 66 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $49,570 | +7% above national |
| 67 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,540 | +7% above national |
| 68 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $49,520 | +7% above national |
| 69 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $49,480 | +7% above national |
| 70 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $49,470 | +7% above national |
| 71 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $49,430 | +7% above national |
| 72 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $49,430 | +7% above national |
| 73 | Richmond, VA | $49,270 | +6% above national |
| 74 | Billings, MT | $49,210 | +6% above national |
| 75 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $49,060 | +6% above national |
| 76 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $49,040 | +6% above national |
| 77 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $49,000 | +6% above national |
| 78 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,000 | +6% above national |
| 79 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $48,920 | +6% above national |
| 80 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $48,890 | +6% above national |
| 81 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,880 | +6% above national |
| 82 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $48,860 | +5% above national |
| 83 | Lancaster, PA | $48,780 | +5% above national |
| 84 | Medford, OR | $48,760 | +5% above national |
| 85 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $48,760 | +5% above national |
| 86 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,710 | +5% above national |
| 87 | Roanoke, VA | $48,700 | +5% above national |
| 88 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $48,650 | +5% above national |
| 89 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,640 | +5% above national |
| 90 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,600 | +5% above national |
| 91 | Topeka, KS | $48,600 | +5% above national |
| 92 | Winston-Salem, NC | $48,520 | +5% above national |
| 93 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $48,510 | +5% above national |
| 94 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $48,390 | +4% above national |
| 95 | St. Cloud, MN | $48,370 | +4% above national |
| 96 | Gettysburg, PA | $48,300 | +4% above national |
| 97 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $48,200 | +4% above national |
| 98 | Lawrence, KS | $48,130 | +4% above national |
| 99 | Fresno, CA | $48,100 | +4% above national |
| 100 | Lynchburg, VA | $48,100 | +4% above national |
| 101 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $48,100 | +4% above national |
| 102 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $48,080 | +4% above national |
| 103 | Chambersburg, PA | $48,030 | +4% above national |
| 104 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $48,030 | +4% above national |
| 105 | Huntsville, AL | $48,000 | +4% above national |
| 106 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $47,930 | +3% above national |
| 107 | Colorado Springs, CO | $47,890 | +3% above national |
| 108 | Columbus, IN | $47,880 | +3% above national |
| 109 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $47,830 | +3% above national |
| 110 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $47,790 | +3% above national |
| 111 | Evansville, IN | $47,790 | +3% above national |
| 112 | Carson City, NV | $47,690 | +3% above national |
| 113 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $47,630 | +3% above national |
| 114 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $47,560 | +3% above national |
| 115 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $47,560 | +3% above national |
| 116 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $47,550 | +3% above national |
| 117 | Gainesville, GA | $47,470 | +2% above national |
| 118 | Duluth, MN-WI | $47,410 | +2% above national |
| 119 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $47,410 | +2% above national |
| 120 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $47,360 | +2% above national |
| 121 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $47,330 | +2% above national |
| 122 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $47,330 | +2% above national |
| 123 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $47,300 | +2% above national |
| 124 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $47,250 | +2% above national |
| 125 | Baton Rouge, LA | $47,240 | +2% above national |
| 126 | New Haven, CT | $47,240 | +2% above national |
| 127 | Asheville, NC | $47,230 | +2% above national |
| 128 | Fargo, ND-MN | $47,230 | +2% above national |
| 129 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $47,220 | +2% above national |
| 130 | Greeley, CO | $47,190 | +2% above national |
| 131 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $47,170 | +2% above national |
| 132 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $47,160 | +2% above national |
| 133 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $47,120 | +2% above national |
| 134 | Rockford, IL | $47,030 | +2% above national |
| 135 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $46,990 | +1% above national |
| 136 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $46,990 | +1% above national |
| 137 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $46,980 | +1% above national |
| 138 | Yakima, WA | $46,960 | +1% above national |
| 139 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $46,950 | +1% above national |
| 140 | Kankakee, IL | $46,940 | +1% above national |
| 141 | Pittsburgh, PA | $46,940 | +1% above national |
| 142 | Williamsport, PA | $46,930 | +1% above national |
| 143 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $46,900 | +1% above national |
| 144 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $46,890 | +1% above national |
| 145 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $46,800 | +1% above national |
| 146 | York-Hanover, PA | $46,790 | +1% above national |
| 147 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $46,740 | +1% above national |
| 148 | Ogden, UT | $46,670 | +1% above national |
| 149 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $46,640 | +1% above national |
| 150 | Eau Claire, WI | $46,590 | +1% above national |
| 151 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,590 | +1% above national |
| 152 | Rochester, NY | $46,580 | +1% above national |
| 153 | Utica-Rome, NY | $46,570 | +1% above national |
| 154 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $46,540 | same as national |
| 155 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $46,510 | same as national |
| 156 | Wausau, WI | $46,470 | same as national |
| 157 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $46,420 | same as national |
| 158 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $46,380 | same as national |
| 159 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $46,380 | same as national |
| 160 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $46,310 | same as national |
| 161 | Cleveland, OH | $46,300 | same as national |
| 162 | Peoria, IL | $46,280 | same as national |
| 163 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $46,270 | same as national |
| 164 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $46,200 | same as national |
| 165 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $46,170 | same as national |
| 166 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $46,170 | same as national |
| 167 | Anchorage, AK | $46,100 | same as national |
| 168 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $46,060 | 1% below national |
| 169 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,060 | 1% below national |
| 170 | Manhattan, KS | $46,030 | 1% below national |
| 171 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $46,020 | 1% below national |
| 172 | Muncie, IN | $46,010 | 1% below national |
| 173 | Madison, WI | $45,980 | 1% below national |
| 174 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $45,970 | 1% below national |
| 175 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $45,940 | 1% below national |
| 176 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,940 | 1% below national |
| 177 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $45,930 | 1% below national |
| 178 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $45,870 | 1% below national |
| 179 | Tulsa, OK | $45,860 | 1% below national |
| 180 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $45,860 | 1% below national |
| 181 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $45,860 | 1% below national |
| 182 | Grand Junction, CO | $45,840 | 1% below national |
| 183 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $45,780 | 1% below national |
| 184 | Akron, OH | $45,770 | 1% below national |
| 185 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $45,760 | 1% below national |
| 186 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,760 | 1% below national |
| 187 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $45,710 | 1% below national |
| 188 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $45,690 | 1% below national |
| 189 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $45,650 | 1% below national |
| 190 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $45,640 | 1% below national |
| 191 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,640 | 1% below national |
| 192 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $45,620 | 2% below national |
| 193 | Midland, TX | $45,600 | 2% below national |
| 194 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $45,570 | 2% below national |
| 195 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $45,560 | 2% below national |
| 196 | Kingston, NY | $45,540 | 2% below national |
| 197 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $45,520 | 2% below national |
| 198 | Toledo, OH | $45,500 | 2% below national |
| 199 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $45,500 | 2% below national |
| 200 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $45,470 | 2% below national |
| 201 | Wichita, KS | $45,460 | 2% below national |
| 202 | Tucson, AZ | $45,430 | 2% below national |
| 203 | Knoxville, TN | $45,420 | 2% below national |
| 204 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,400 | 2% below national |
| 205 | Decatur, AL | $45,350 | 2% below national |
| 206 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,300 | 2% below national |
| 207 | Birmingham, AL | $45,270 | 2% below national |
| 208 | Springfield, MO | $45,230 | 2% below national |
| 209 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,200 | 2% below national |
| 210 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $45,160 | 3% below national |
| 211 | Merced, CA | $45,130 | 3% below national |
| 212 | Jackson, MS | $45,070 | 3% below national |
| 213 | Columbus, OH | $44,890 | 3% below national |
| 214 | Jackson, MI | $44,840 | 3% below national |
| 215 | Springfield, OH | $44,840 | 3% below national |
| 216 | Odessa, TX | $44,820 | 3% below national |
| 217 | Florence, SC | $44,800 | 3% below national |
| 218 | Worcester, MA | $44,800 | 3% below national |
| 219 | Bowling Green, KY | $44,790 | 3% below national |
| 220 | Pocatello, ID | $44,790 | 3% below national |
| 221 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $44,770 | 3% below national |
| 222 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $44,730 | 3% below national |
| 223 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $44,680 | 4% below national |
| 224 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $44,610 | 4% below national |
| 225 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $44,550 | 4% below national |
| 226 | Binghamton, NY | $44,440 | 4% below national |
| 227 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $44,440 | 4% below national |
| 228 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $44,440 | 4% below national |
| 229 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $44,410 | 4% below national |
| 230 | Lebanon, PA | $44,400 | 4% below national |
| 231 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $44,350 | 4% below national |
| 232 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $44,250 | 4% below national |
| 233 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $44,220 | 5% below national |
| 234 | Elmira, NY | $44,190 | 5% below national |
| 235 | Bloomington, IN | $44,130 | 5% below national |
| 236 | Kokomo, IN | $44,080 | 5% below national |
| 237 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $44,060 | 5% below national |
| 238 | Logan, UT-ID | $44,060 | 5% below national |
| 239 | Mobile, AL | $43,960 | 5% below national |
| 240 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $43,950 | 5% below national |
| 241 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $43,940 | 5% below national |
| 242 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $43,920 | 5% below national |
| 243 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $43,880 | 5% below national |
| 244 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $43,830 | 5% below national |
| 245 | Columbia, SC | $43,790 | 5% below national |
| 246 | Cleveland, TN | $43,720 | 6% below national |
| 247 | Visalia, CA | $43,710 | 6% below national |
| 248 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $43,650 | 6% below national |
| 249 | Syracuse, NY | $43,610 | 6% below national |
| 250 | Erie, PA | $43,470 | 6% below national |
| 251 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $43,420 | 6% below national |
| 252 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,370 | 6% below national |
| 253 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $43,250 | 7% below national |
| 254 | Jackson, TN | $43,150 | 7% below national |
| 255 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $43,110 | 7% below national |
| 256 | Montgomery, AL | $43,030 | 7% below national |
| 257 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $43,030 | 7% below national |
| 258 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $42,990 | 7% below national |
| 259 | Fort Wayne, IN | $42,960 | 7% below national |
| 260 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $42,950 | 7% below national |
| 261 | Wilmington, NC | $42,890 | 7% below national |
| 262 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $42,790 | 8% below national |
| 263 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $42,720 | 8% below national |
| 264 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $42,660 | 8% below national |
| 265 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,650 | 8% below national |
| 266 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $42,630 | 8% below national |
| 267 | Burlington, NC | $42,480 | 8% below national |
| 268 | Spartanburg, SC | $42,300 | 9% below national |
| 269 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $42,210 | 9% below national |
| 270 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $42,060 | 9% below national |
| 271 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $42,050 | 9% below national |
| 272 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $41,980 | 9% below national |
| 273 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $41,870 | 10% below national |
| 274 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $41,790 | 10% below national |
| 275 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $41,740 | 10% below national |
| 276 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $41,670 | 10% below national |
| 277 | Jacksonville, FL | $41,650 | 10% below national |
| 278 | Dover, DE | $41,640 | 10% below national |
| 279 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $41,580 | 10% below national |
| 280 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $41,530 | 10% below national |
| 281 | Ocala, FL | $41,510 | 10% below national |
| 282 | Paducah, KY-IL | $41,470 | 10% below national |
| 283 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $41,440 | 11% below national |
| 284 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $41,400 | 11% below national |
| 285 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $41,320 | 11% below national |
| 286 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $41,240 | 11% below national |
| 287 | Niles, MI | $41,090 | 11% below national |
| 288 | Joplin, MO-KS | $40,930 | 12% below national |
| 289 | Oklahoma City, OK | $40,930 | 12% below national |
| 290 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $40,920 | 12% below national |
| 291 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $40,840 | 12% below national |
| 292 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $40,800 | 12% below national |
| 293 | Dalton, GA | $40,730 | 12% below national |
| 294 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $40,710 | 12% below national |
| 295 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $40,680 | 12% below national |
| 296 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $40,650 | 12% below national |
| 297 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $40,650 | 12% below national |
| 298 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $40,620 | 12% below national |
| 299 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $40,610 | 12% below national |
| 300 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $40,590 | 12% below national |
| 301 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $40,580 | 12% below national |
| 302 | Boise City, ID | $40,560 | 12% below national |
| 303 | Springfield, MA | $40,560 | 12% below national |
| 304 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $40,480 | 13% below national |
| 305 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $40,410 | 13% below national |
| 306 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $40,290 | 13% below national |
| 307 | Wichita Falls, TX | $40,260 | 13% below national |
| 308 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $40,180 | 13% below national |
| 309 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $40,170 | 13% below national |
| 310 | Johnson City, TN | $40,110 | 13% below national |
| 311 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $40,060 | 14% below national |
| 312 | Longview, TX | $40,010 | 14% below national |
| 313 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $40,010 | 14% below national |
| 314 | Abilene, TX | $40,000 | 14% below national |
| 315 | Owensboro, KY | $39,970 | 14% below national |
| 316 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $39,950 | 14% below national |
| 317 | State College, PA | $39,940 | 14% below national |
| 318 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $39,880 | 14% below national |
| 319 | Morristown, TN | $39,860 | 14% below national |
| 320 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $39,760 | 14% below national |
| 321 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $39,720 | 14% below national |
| 322 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $39,650 | 14% below national |
| 323 | Traverse City, MI | $39,600 | 15% below national |
| 324 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $39,600 | 15% below national |
| 325 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $39,520 | 15% below national |
| 326 | Battle Creek, MI | $39,510 | 15% below national |
| 327 | Albuquerque, NM | $39,440 | 15% below national |
| 328 | Lima, OH | $39,440 | 15% below national |
| 329 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $39,440 | 15% below national |
| 330 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $39,370 | 15% below national |
| 331 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $39,320 | 15% below national |
| 332 | Altoona, PA | $39,300 | 15% below national |
| 333 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $39,190 | 15% below national |
| 334 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $39,150 | 15% below national |
| 335 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $39,030 | 16% below national |
| 336 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $39,000 | 16% below national |
| 337 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $38,980 | 16% below national |
| 338 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $38,890 | 16% below national |
| 339 | Savannah, GA | $38,840 | 16% below national |
| 340 | Bay City, MI | $38,740 | 16% below national |
| 341 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $38,650 | 17% below national |
| 342 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $38,640 | 17% below national |
| 343 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $38,580 | 17% below national |
| 344 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $38,500 | 17% below national |
| 345 | Gadsden, AL | $38,420 | 17% below national |
| 346 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $38,420 | 17% below national |
| 347 | Monroe, MI | $38,410 | 17% below national |
| 348 | Jefferson City, MO | $38,400 | 17% below national |
| 349 | Pittsfield, MA | $38,340 | 17% below national |
| 350 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $38,290 | 17% below national |
| 351 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $38,290 | 17% below national |
| 352 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $38,230 | 17% below national |
| 353 | Mansfield, OH | $38,200 | 18% below national |
| 354 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $38,180 | 18% below national |
| 355 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $38,040 | 18% below national |
| 356 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,990 | 18% below national |
| 357 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,940 | 18% below national |
| 358 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,940 | 18% below national |
| 359 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $37,890 | 18% below national |
| 360 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $37,890 | 18% below national |
| 361 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $37,880 | 18% below national |
| 362 | Waco, TX | $37,700 | 19% below national |
| 363 | Dothan, AL | $37,590 | 19% below national |
| 364 | Tyler, TX | $37,400 | 19% below national |
| 365 | Goldsboro, NC | $37,390 | 19% below national |
| 366 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $37,160 | 20% below national |
| 367 | Rocky Mount, NC | $37,090 | 20% below national |
| 368 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $37,040 | 20% below national |
| 369 | Lubbock, TX | $36,980 | 20% below national |
| 370 | Johnstown, PA | $36,960 | 20% below national |
| 371 | Idaho Falls, ID | $36,940 | 20% below national |
| 372 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $36,610 | 21% below national |
| 373 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $36,530 | 21% below national |
| 374 | Twin Falls, ID | $36,510 | 21% below national |
| 375 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $36,400 | 21% below national |
| 376 | Corpus Christi, TX | $36,370 | 21% below national |
| 377 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $36,330 | 22% below national |
| 378 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $35,730 | 23% below national |
| 379 | El Paso, TX | $35,410 | 24% below national |
| 380 | Columbus, GA-AL | $35,390 | 24% below national |
| 381 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $33,840 | 27% below national |
| 382 | Valdosta, GA | $33,820 | 27% below national |
| 383 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $33,480 | 28% below national |
| 384 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $24,090 | 48% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 51 (production) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make? ▼
The median annual salary for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $46,330 ($22.27/hour). The salary range spans from $35,760 at the 10th percentile to $65,510 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic the most? ▼
Oregon pays the highest median salary for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic at $53,680/year, which is +16% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is High school diploma or equivalent. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 3.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 3.2 per 100 workers.
Is Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic a good career? ▼
Employment for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is projected to decline 12.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 14,400 openings are projected each year.
How does Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay vary by state? ▼
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Oregon at $53,680/year, while Mississippi pays the least at $40,650/year. BLS data covers 50 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is Flint, MI at $78,600/year. BLS reports wage data for 384 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $55,410/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Oregon leads at $53,680/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.