Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Ames, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Ames, IA

Median annual salary $59,540 +30.3% vs national
Median hourly $28.62
10th percentile $39,500
90th percentile $60,020
Employed locally 70
National median $45,700

Compare Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary & buying power

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Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
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Ames, IA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,500
    25th
    $56,270
    50th (median)
    $59,540
    75th
    $59,540
    90th
    $60,020

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary vs area income 84% Median Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary is 16% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $65,560
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $60,480
    Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area $59,920
    Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area $58,960
    Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $58,590
    St. Cloud, MN $58,450

    Nearby metros — Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $65,560
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $51,500
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $49,570
    Pennsylvania $47,580
    Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $47,540
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $47,070

    Related occupations in Ames, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $47,250
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $47,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $67,220
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $49,310
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $59,950
    Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $48,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Ames, IA is $28.62, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.85 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries?

    The median Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Ames, IA is 30.3% above the national median of $45,700. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Ames?

    Entry-level Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $39,500 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $56,270.