Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $45,040 -7.4% vs national
Median hourly $21.65
10th percentile $40,060
90th percentile $62,160
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 Columbia, SC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,060
    25th
    $40,060
    50th (median)
    $45,040
    75th
    $61,190
    90th
    $62,160

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 68% Median Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 32% 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
    Spartanburg, SC $61,940
    South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $53,510
    Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $52,890
    Wisconsin $51,540
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $50,800
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $47,680

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$39,150
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$46,710
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,920
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$38,280
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$36,130
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,430

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Columbia, SC is $21.65, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.89 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia 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 Columbia, SC is 7.4% 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 Columbia?

    Entry-level Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $40,060 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $40,060.