Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Waterloo, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Median annual salary $48,640 +6.7% vs national
Median hourly $23.39
10th percentile $41,650
90th percentile $57,450
Employed locally 90
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 Waterloo, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,650
    25th
    $48,540
    50th (median)
    $48,640
    75th
    $50,630
    90th
    $57,450

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 71% Median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 29% 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
    Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area $55,710
    West Virginia $53,460
    Ames, IA $51,010
    Dubuque, IA $50,450
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $50,080
    Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $49,590

    Related occupations in Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$48,120
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,220
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48,420
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$47,630
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,420
    Production Workers, All Other$48,700

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Waterloo, IA is $23.39, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.73 or more per hour.

    Is Waterloo 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 Waterloo, IA is 6.7% 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 Waterloo?

    Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $41,650 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $48,540.