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BLSSalary

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary (2025)

Based on 171,200 employed workers · BLS OEWS May 2025

Official BLS Data
Annual Mean
$48,430
$23.28/hr
Annual Median
$46,330
$22.27/hr
Bottom 10%
$35,760
$17.19/hr
Top 10%
$65,510
$31.50/hr

Salary Percentile Breakdown

PercentileAnnual
10th Percentile
Bottom 10%
$35,760
25th Percentile
Lower quarter
$38,870
50th PercentileMedian
Median
$46,330
75th Percentile
Upper quarter
$55,410
90th Percentile
Top 10%
$65,510

Salary Distribution

Annual Salary Range

10th

$36K

25th

$39K

Median

$46K

75th

$55K

90th

$66K

Highest Paying States for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

States with highest average wages · BLS May 2025

StateAnnual Mean
Oregon$55,390
Washington$55,150
Colorado$55,080
Maine$52,050
Michigan$51,880
Illinois$51,740
California$51,620
North Dakota$51,620
Alaska$51,270
Rhode Island$50,870

Geographic Salary Variation

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries vary significantly across the United States. The highest paying state is Oregon at an average of $55,390 per year, while Rhode Island has an average of $50,870 — a difference of $4,520. These geographic differences reflect variations in cost of living, demand, and local labor market conditions.

About Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 171,200 workers were employed as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics in the United States as of May 2025. This occupation is classified under Production Occupations. The annual mean wage of $48,430 reflects data from employer surveys conducted by BLS.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC Code: 51-4031

What do these percentiles mean? The 10th percentile ($35,760) represents entry-level or part-time Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics, while the 90th percentile ($65,510) represents highly experienced professionals or those in high-demand locations. The median ($46,330) is the midpoint — half of all Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics earn more and half earn less than this amount.
Data sourced from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025. Public domain. Not affiliated with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.