Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Asheville, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Asheville, NC

Median annual salary $38,790 -14.9% vs national
Median hourly $18.65
10th percentile $33,900
90th percentile $50,960
Employed locally 140
National median $45,590

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

Type a city below to see how Asheville, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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

    10th
    $33,900
    25th
    $36,830
    50th (median)
    $38,790
    75th
    $48,670
    90th
    $50,960

    Asheville economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,236 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 56% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 44% 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
    Fayetteville, NC $67,180
    Lincoln, NE $56,700
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $52,350
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $50,680
    Lancaster, PA $48,340
    Lawrence, KS $48,130

    Related occupations in Asheville, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$40,600
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$68,240
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$41,870
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,610
    Machinists$47,130
    Production Workers, All Other$38,870

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Asheville?

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Asheville, NC is $18.65, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.08 or more per hour.

    Is Asheville 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 Asheville, NC is 14.9% below 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 Asheville?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $33,900 per year in Asheville, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,830.