Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Knoxville, TN

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

Median annual salary $41,710 -10.6% vs national
Median hourly $20.05
10th percentile $41,210
90th percentile $46,980
Employed locally 70
National median $46,630

Compare Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Knoxville, TN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $41,210
    25th
    $41,510
    50th (median)
    $41,710
    75th
    $41,710
    90th
    $46,980

    Knoxville economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,734 2023 • Census ACS
    Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 60% Median Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 40% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Washington $99,720
    Missouri $99,630
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $77,720
    Massachusetts $74,680
    Florida $62,400
    Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area $62,390

    Nearby metros — Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $43,790
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $42,570
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $41,810

    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 Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Knoxville?

    The median hourly wage for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Knoxville, TN is $20.05, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.59 or more per hour.

    Is Knoxville above or below average for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries?

    The median Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Knoxville, TN is 10.6% below the national median of $46,630. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Knoxville?

    Entry-level Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $41,210 per year in Knoxville, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $41,510.