Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Ames, IA

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

Median annual salary $51,010 +11.9% vs national
Median hourly $24.52
10th percentile $39,750
90th percentile $57,160
Employed locally 50
National median $45,590

Compare Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

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Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,750
    25th
    $43,880
    50th (median)
    $51,010
    75th
    $55,670
    90th
    $57,160

    Ames economic context

    Unemployment rate 2.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,090 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 72% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 28% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Flint, MI $74,080
    Fayetteville, NC $67,180
    Lewiston-Auburn, ME $62,760
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $61,930
    Rome, GA $61,670
    Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $60,340

    Nearby metros — Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $55,710
    West Virginia $53,460
    Dubuque, IA $50,450
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $50,080
    Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $49,590
    Columbia, MO $49,510

    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, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Ames?

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Ames, IA is $24.52, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.48 or more per hour.

    Is Ames above or below average for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries?

    The median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Ames, IA is 11.9% above the national median of $45,590. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Ames?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $39,750 per year in Ames, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,880.