Lathe and Turning 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 $46,400 -4.6% vs national
Median hourly $22.31
10th percentile $46,400
90th percentile $46,400
Employed locally 580
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 Knoxville, TN 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
    $46,400
    25th
    $46,400
    50th (median)
    $46,400
    75th
    $46,400
    90th
    $46,400

    Knoxville economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,734 2023 • Census ACS
    Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 67% Median Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 33% 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
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $47,040
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $31,480

    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 Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Knoxville?

    The median hourly wage for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Knoxville, TN is $22.31, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.31 or more per hour.

    Is Knoxville 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 Knoxville, TN is 4.6% 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 Knoxville?

    Entry-level Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $46,400 per year in Knoxville, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,400.