SOC 514031

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

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

National Median

$45,590

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$45,590

Entry Level (10th pct)

$35,000

Experienced (90th pct)

$62,650

Total Employed

174,430

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$35,000 - $38,400
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$38,400 - $52,150
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$52,150 - $62,650

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

Flint, MI

$74,080

+62.5% vs national

Fayetteville, NC

$67,180

+47.4% vs national

Lewiston-Auburn, ME

$62,760

+37.7% vs national

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

$61,930

+35.8% vs national

Rome, GA

$61,670

+35.3% vs national

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Flint, MI	$74,080	450
Fayetteville, NC	$67,180	80
Lewiston-Auburn, ME	$62,760	60
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$61,930	2,950
Rome, GA	$61,670	240
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$60,340	570
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$58,590	450
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$58,450	780
Lincoln, NE	$56,700	200
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$56,490	160
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$56,460	30
St. Cloud, MN	$55,950	70
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area	$55,710	140
Mankato, MN	$55,550	90
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$55,470	11,320
Medford, OR	$54,650	40
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$54,170	1,260
Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area	$53,760	50
Bellingham, WA	$53,630	40
West Virginia	$53,460	330
Reading, PA	$52,990	390
Mobile, AL	$52,940	210
West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area	$52,710	40
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$52,350	700
Oregon	$51,810	910
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$51,330	3,700
Fond du Lac, WI	$51,220	240
Rochester, MN	$51,120	150
Boulder, CO	$51,050	50
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	$51,040	30
Ames, IA	$51,010	50
Appleton, WI	$50,980	430
Minnesota	$50,960	5,570
Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area	$50,840	270
Sheboygan, WI	$50,800	500
Salem, OR	$50,700	60
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$50,680	540
Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area	$50,670	600
Dubuque, IA	$50,450	130
Albany, OR	$50,330	40
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$50,320	60
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area	$50,280	40
Maine	$50,180	240
Portland-South Portland, ME	$50,180	110
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$50,080	820
Glens Falls, NY	$50,050	30
Billings, MT	$50,000	30
Jonesboro, AR	$49,990	210
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area	$49,960	320
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area	$49,800	670

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

The national median annual salary for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $45,590, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics is Flint, MI, with a median salary of $74,080.

How much can an experienced Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make?

Top-earning Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics (90th percentile) make $62,650 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.