Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Fort Smith, AR-OK

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Fort Smith, AR-OK

Median annual salary $39,170 -14.1% vs national
Median hourly $18.83
10th percentile $32,460
90th percentile $48,660
Employed locally 210
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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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,460
    25th
    $34,980
    50th (median)
    $39,170
    75th
    $46,270
    90th
    $48,660

    Fort Smith economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $56,717 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 69% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 31% 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $58,590
    Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $58,450
    Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $55,710
    Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $55,470
    Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area $53,760
    West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area $52,710

    Related occupations in Fort Smith, AR-OK

    OccupationMedian salary
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $36,160
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $35,150
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $57,840
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $38,350
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $41,730
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $45,450

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Fort Smith, AR-OK is $18.83, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.13 or more per hour.

    Is Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith, AR-OK is 14.1% 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 Fort Smith?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $32,460 per year in Fort Smith, AR-OK. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,980.