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

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $44,130 -3.2% vs national
Median hourly $21.21
10th percentile $37,890
90th percentile $61,290
Employed locally 110
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 Durham, 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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Durham, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,890
    25th
    $39,670
    50th (median)
    $44,130
    75th
    $48,850
    90th
    $61,290

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 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
    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 Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$42,040
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$48,770
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,930
    Production Workers, All Other$48,460
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,740
    Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$31,490

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Durham, NC is $21.21, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.17 or more per hour.

    Is Durham 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 Durham, NC is 3.2% 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 Durham?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $37,890 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,670.