Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Knoxville, TN

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

Median annual salary $46,460 +11.7% vs national
Median hourly $22.34
10th percentile $37,570
90th percentile $55,640
Employed locally 120
National median $41,600

Compare Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

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Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Knoxville, TN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,570
    25th
    $39,420
    50th (median)
    $46,460
    75th
    $52,990
    90th
    $55,640

    Knoxville economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,734 2023 • Census ACS
    Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 67% Median Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Ogden, UT $66,980
    West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area $66,150
    Oklahoma City, OK $64,420
    Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $58,720
    Reading, PA $55,230
    Omaha, NE-IA $54,460

    Nearby metros — Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $48,440
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $43,310
    Jackson, TN $42,710
    Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $37,090
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $27,520

    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 Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Knoxville?

    The median hourly wage for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Knoxville, TN is $22.34, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.91 or more per hour.

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

    The median Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Knoxville, TN is 11.7% above the national median of $41,600. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $37,570 per year in Knoxville, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $39,420.