Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Texas
Metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders in Texas earned a median of $48,020 a year ($23.09 an hour) and a mean of $44,150 in May 2025. The median is 5.1% below the U.S. median of $50,620, ranking 27th of 36 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $48,020
- Median hourly
- $23.09
- Mean annual
- $44,150
- Jobs on record
- 2,150
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 Texas compare on pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders?
Texas ranks 27th of 36 states. Colorado is highest at $71,670, $23,650 more than the Texas median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 25 | $48,920 | -3% | 210 |
| New Jersey | 26 | $48,180 | -5% | 190 |
| Texas | 27 | $48,020 | -5% | 2,150 |
| Nebraska | 28 | $47,350 | -6% | 120 |
| Kansas | 29 | $47,310 | -7% | 90 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 36 states with a published figure. See every state.
Does Texas pay go further after prices?
Prices in Texas run 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the $48,020 median buys about what $49,476 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $50,620 U.S. median. On this measure Texas ranks 26th of 36, up from 27th 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 Texas pay metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX is highest at $52,070, 8.4% above the Texas median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $52,070 | 170 |
| North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $48,020 | 160 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $47,900 | 1,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Texas 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 Texas?
BLS counts 2,150 jobs in Texas, 12.9% of the 16,710 in the U.S. That is the 2nd largest count among the 36 states with a published figure. That is 0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in Texas, a location quotient of 1.42: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.42 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.
Related jobs in Texas
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.