Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Michigan
Metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders in Michigan earned a median of $46,680 a year ($22.44 an hour) and a mean of $48,900 in May 2025. The median is 7.8% below the U.S. median of $50,620, ranking 31st of 36 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $46,680
- Median hourly
- $22.44
- Mean annual
- $48,900
- Jobs on record
- 1,540
Grey needle: U.S. median, $50,620 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Michigan compare on pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders?
Michigan ranks 31st of 36 states. Colorado is highest at $71,670, $24,990 more than the Michigan median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 29 | $47,310 | -7% | 90 |
| Kentucky | 30 | $47,060 | -7% | 250 |
| Michigan | 31 | $46,680 | -8% | 1,540 |
| Florida | 32 | $44,710 | -12% | 140 |
| Oklahoma | 33 | $43,680 | -14% | 240 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 36 states with a published figure. See every state.
Does Michigan pay go further after prices?
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the U.S. average, so the $46,680 median buys about what $48,515 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $50,620 U.S. median. On this measure Michigan ranks 27th of 36, up from 31st before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Michigan pay metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area is highest at $60,360, 29.3% above the Michigan median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $60,360 | 100 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $49,210 | 740 |
| Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $47,960 | 40 |
| Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $47,500 | 40 |
| Flint, MI | $45,880 | 40 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $44,820 | 170 |
| Jackson, MI | $38,800 | 110 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Michigan is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders work in Michigan?
BLS counts 1,540 jobs in Michigan, 9.2% of the 16,710 in the U.S. That is the 3rd largest count among the 36 states with a published figure. That is 0.35 of every 1,000 jobs in Michigan, a location quotient of 3.26: the occupation's share of local jobs is 3.26 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Michigan minimum wage compare with pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders in Michigan was $17.61 in May 2025, $3.88 above the $13.73 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Michigan
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.