Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chattanooga, TN-GA

Median annual salary $47,040 -3.2% vs national
Median hourly $22.61
10th percentile $43,150
90th percentile $47,040
Employed locally 70
National median $48,620

Compare Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

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

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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $43,150
    25th
    $43,150
    50th (median)
    $47,040
    75th
    $47,040
    90th
    $47,040

    Chattanooga economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,666 2023 • Census ACS
    Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 69% Median Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 31% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Greeley, CO $71,150
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $64,790
    Pittsburgh, PA $64,410
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $62,920
    Maine $62,120
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $62,080

    Nearby metros — Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $51,080
    Knoxville, TN $46,400
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $31,480

    Related occupations in Chattanooga, TN-GA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$38,440
    Production Workers, All Other$41,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$62,030
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,440
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$44,920
    Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,150

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Chattanooga?

    The median hourly wage for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $22.61, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.22 or more per hour.

    Is Chattanooga above or below average for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries?

    The median Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA is 3.2% below the national median of $48,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chattanooga?

    Entry-level Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $43,150 per year in Chattanooga, TN-GA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $43,150.