Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Houston, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Median annual salary $42,790 -6.1% vs national
Median hourly $20.57
10th percentile $33,990
90th percentile $56,100
Employed locally 3,670
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 Houston, TX stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Houston, TX
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,990
    25th
    $36,870
    50th (median)
    $42,790
    75th
    $47,840
    90th
    $56,100

    Houston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,458 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 53% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 47% 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
    Amarillo, TX $47,010
    Midland, TX $45,970
    Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $45,440
    Wichita Falls, TX $44,400
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $43,820
    Odessa, TX $42,760

    Related occupations in Houston, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $36,560
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $53,810
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $43,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,530
    Machinists $58,630
    Helpers--Production Workers $35,990

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Houston, TX is $20.57, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $27.57 or more per hour.

    Is Houston 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 Houston, TX is 6.1% 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 Houston?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $33,990 per year in Houston, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,870.