Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in East Tennessee

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $46,340 +1.6% vs national
Median hourly $22.28
10th percentile $33,180
90th percentile $57,280
Employed locally 480
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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East Tennessee
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,180
    25th
    $39,080
    50th (median)
    $46,340
    75th
    $51,360
    90th
    $57,280

    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

    Related occupations in East Tennessee

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$41,980
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$59,240
    Production Workers, All Other$41,560
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$44,260
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$46,150
    Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,530

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in East Tennessee is $22.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.43 or more per hour.

    Is East Tennessee 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 East Tennessee is 1.6% 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 East Tennessee?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $33,180 per year in East Tennessee. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,080.