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

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $49,450 +8.5% vs national
Median hourly $23.77
10th percentile $37,440
90th percentile $59,970
Employed locally 300
National median $45,590

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

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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,440
    25th
    $40,920
    50th (median)
    $49,450
    75th
    $55,300
    90th
    $59,970

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 59% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 41% 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
    Ames, IA $51,010
    Dubuque, IA $50,450
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $50,080
    Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $49,590

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$43,510
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,590
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,200
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$50,950
    Butchers and Meat Cutters$36,140
    Bakers$36,460

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Des Moines, IA is $23.77, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.80 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines 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 Des Moines, IA is 8.5% 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 Des Moines?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $37,440 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,920.