Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Knoxville, TN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Knoxville, TN

Median annual salary $47,130 +3.4% vs national
Median hourly $22.66
10th percentile $36,070
90th percentile $50,140
Employed locally 740
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
    $36,070
    25th
    $38,690
    50th (median)
    $47,130
    75th
    $49,850
    90th
    $50,140

    Knoxville economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,734 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 68% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 32% 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
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $45,990
    Clarksville, TN-KY $44,080
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $44,030
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $41,530
    Jackson, TN $40,870
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $39,560

    Related occupations in Knoxville, TN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$38,120
    Production Workers, All Other$39,520
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$62,220
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$46,440
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$47,370
    Machinists$47,840

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Knoxville, TN is $22.66, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $24.91 or more per hour.

    Is Knoxville 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 Knoxville, TN is 3.4% 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 Knoxville?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $36,070 per year in Knoxville, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,690.