Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Merced, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Merced, CA

Median annual salary $43,640 -4.3% vs national
Median hourly $20.98
10th percentile $34,110
90th percentile $64,120
Employed locally 30
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
    $34,110
    25th
    $34,110
    50th (median)
    $43,640
    75th
    $58,120
    90th
    $64,120

    Merced economic context

    Unemployment rate 9.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $65,044 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 67% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 33% 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $50,680
    Napa, CA $50,510
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $50,320
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $49,730
    Ithaca, NY $49,380

    Related occupations in Merced, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Slaughterers and Meat Packers $38,660
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $45,050
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $76,730
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $35,070
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $46,110
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $48,710

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Merced, CA is $20.98, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $31.80 or more per hour.

    Is Merced 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 Merced, CA is 4.3% 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 Merced?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $34,110 per year in Merced, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,110.