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BLSSalary

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary (2025)

Based on 16,710 employed workers · BLS OEWS May 2025

Official BLS Data
Annual Mean
$52,490
$25.24/hr
Annual Median
$50,620
$24.34/hr
Bottom 10%
$36,670
$17.63/hr
Top 10%
$69,700
$33.51/hr

Salary Percentile Breakdown

PercentileAnnual
10th Percentile
Bottom 10%
$36,670
25th Percentile
Lower quarter
$43,250
50th PercentileMedian
Median
$50,620
75th Percentile
Upper quarter
$60,700
90th Percentile
Top 10%
$69,700

Salary Distribution

Annual Salary Range

10th

$37K

25th

$43K

Median

$51K

75th

$61K

90th

$70K

Highest Paying States for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

States with highest average wages · BLS May 2025

StateAnnual Mean
Colorado$69,780
Massachusetts$60,670
Minnesota$60,380
California$59,980
Maine$59,270
Maryland$59,010
Arizona$58,500
Nevada$57,080
Alabama$56,580
Pennsylvania$56,350

Geographic Salary Variation

Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries vary significantly across the United States. The highest paying state is Colorado at an average of $69,780 per year, while Pennsylvania has an average of $56,350 — a difference of $13,430. These geographic differences reflect variations in cost of living, demand, and local labor market conditions.

About Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 16,710 workers were employed as Lathe and Turning Machine Tool 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 $52,490 reflects data from employer surveys conducted by BLS.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC Code: 51-4034

What do these percentiles mean? The 10th percentile ($36,670) represents entry-level or part-time Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics, while the 90th percentile ($69,700) represents highly experienced professionals or those in high-demand locations. The median ($50,620) is the midpoint — half of all Lathe and Turning Machine Tool 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.