Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary
- 10th pct
- $35,760
- Middle 50%
- $38,870–$55,410
- 90th pct
- $65,510
The BLS estimates 171,200 Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs in the U.S. with a median base pay of $46,330 ($22.27 an hour) (May 2025, SOC 51-4031). Across 193 metros with published figures, medians range from $35,410 in El Paso, TX to $78,600 in Flint, MI.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE171,200 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall U.S. employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · United States
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Where Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn the most
193 metros · BLS
Highest-paying metros
| Metro | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | $78,600 | 380 |
| Rome, GA | $63,740 | 200 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $62,250 | 560 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $61,610 | 1,690 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,230 | 3,100 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $60,080 | 730 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58,580 | 410 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $58,240 | 640 |
| Lincoln, NE | $57,780 | 270 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $57,560 | 650 |
Largest metros
| Metro | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $50,460 | 11,650 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $50,770 | 6,320 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,710 | 4,490 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $43,950 | 4,440 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $42,050 | 4,270 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $43,420 | 3,810 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,640 | 3,490 |
| Cleveland, OH | $46,300 | 3,220 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,230 | 3,100 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $46,310 | 2,840 |
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All metros (A–Z)
BLS
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA · Birmingham, AL · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN · Cleveland, OH · Columbus, OH · Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX · Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI · Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI · Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC · Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN · Kansas City, MO-KS · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN · Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI · Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI · Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) · Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD · Pittsburgh, PA · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area · Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area · St. Louis, MO-IL · West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area
Questions
What is the median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in the U.S.?
$46,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half earn $38,870–$55,410.
How much do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make an hour?
The BLS U.S. median is $22.27 an hour (May 2025). The middle half earn $18.69–$26.64 an hour, and the 90th percentile is $31.50. These are straight-time wages, before overtime and shift differentials.
Where do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic earn the most?
Highest metro medians: Flint, MI ($78,600), Rome, GA ($63,740), Oshkosh-Neenah, WI ($62,250). Cost of living differs, so compare offers locally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025 (metro, state and national estimates). Employer filing counts: U.S. DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data FY2026 Q3, visa-sponsored positions only.