Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Charleston, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Charleston-North Charleston, SC

Median annual salary $44,090 -3.3% vs national
Median hourly $21.20
10th percentile $35,830
90th percentile $56,320
Employed locally 280
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 Charleston, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Charleston, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,830
    25th
    $42,340
    50th (median)
    $44,090
    75th
    $49,920
    90th
    $56,320

    Charleston economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $82,272 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 54% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 46% 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
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $58,450
    Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $56,490
    Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ $51,040
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $50,680
    South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $49,420
    Wisconsin $48,730

    Related occupations in Charleston, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $48,030
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $78,730
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,840
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $52,000
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $50,180
    Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $60,390

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Charleston, SC is $21.20, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.69 or more per hour.

    Is Charleston 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 Charleston, SC is 3.3% 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 Charleston?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $35,830 per year in Charleston, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $42,340.