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

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $38,940 -14.6% vs national
Median hourly $18.72
10th percentile $30,490
90th percentile $58,450
Employed locally 230
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 Hickory, 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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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,490
    25th
    $35,190
    50th (median)
    $38,940
    75th
    $46,110
    90th
    $58,450

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 65% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 35% 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 Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $38,670
    Upholsterers $59,400
    Sewing Machine Operators $46,360
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $63,280
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $41,340
    Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $52,150

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Hickory, NC is $18.72, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.09 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory 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 Hickory, NC is 14.6% 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $30,490 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,190.