Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Reading, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Reading, PA

Median annual salary $52,990 +16.2% vs national

Median hourly $25.48

10th percentile $38,690

90th percentile $67,840

Employed locally 390

National median $45,590

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Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Reading, PA

Salary percentile breakdown

10th

$38,690

25th

$46,280

50th (median)

$52,990

75th

$55,990

90th

$67,840

Reading economic context

Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS

Median household income $77,684 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 area	Median 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 area	Median salary
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$58,450
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$51,330
Napa, CA	$50,510
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$49,400
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$49,080
Lancaster, PA	$48,340

Occupation	Median salary
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators	$42,050
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	$75,670
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	$51,460
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	$52,520
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	$41,230
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers	$52,590

Frequently asked questions

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

The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Reading, PA is $25.48, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.27 or more per hour.

Is Reading 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 Reading, PA is 16.2% 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 Reading?

Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $38,690 per year in Reading, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,280.