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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

51-4031 Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.


National estimates for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Industry profile for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Geographic profile for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

National estimates for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
182,460 1.4 % $ 20.31 $ 42,240 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 14.56 $ 16.93 $ 18.91 $ 22.85 $ 28.41
Annual Wage (2) $ 30,280 $ 35,200 $ 39,340 $ 47,520 $ 59,090


Industry profile for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing 30,850 5.68 $ 22.23 $ 46,230
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) 29,670 6.38 $ 19.44 $ 40,440
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) 21,800 4.49 $ 20.91 $ 43,500
Plastics Product Manufacturing 12,720 2.08 $ 18.51 $ 38,500
Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) 9,080 1.21 $ 20.75 $ 43,160

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel 4,420 7.98 $ 21.63 $ 44,990
Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing 4,550 7.79 $ 19.34 $ 40,230
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) 29,670 6.38 $ 19.44 $ 40,440
Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing 30,850 5.68 $ 22.23 $ 46,230
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) 21,800 4.49 $ 20.91 $ 43,500

Top paying industries for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing 2,100 0.78 $ 27.16 $ 56,500
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 190 0.01 $ 24.80 $ 51,580
Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing 490 0.12 $ 24.03 $ 49,990
Building Equipment Contractors 150 0.01 $ 23.68 $ 49,260
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 3,050 0.64 $ 22.88 $ 47,580


Geographic profile for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 26,050 6.13 4.97 $ 22.81 $ 47,440
Ohio 17,890 3.33 2.70 $ 20.02 $ 41,650
Indiana 12,750 4.13 3.35 $ 19.44 $ 40,440
Illinois 11,960 2.03 1.65 $ 19.31 $ 40,170
Texas 11,870 0.91 0.74 $ 18.69 $ 38,880


Map of location quotient of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Michigan 26,050 6.13 4.97 $ 22.81 $ 47,440
Indiana 12,750 4.13 3.35 $ 19.44 $ 40,440
Wisconsin 9,940 3.53 2.86 $ 20.73 $ 43,120
Kentucky 6,490 3.42 2.77 $ 19.12 $ 39,760
Ohio 17,890 3.33 2.70 $ 20.02 $ 41,650


Map of annual mean wages of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington 2,040 0.60 0.49 $ 24.33 $ 50,600
Alaska 70 0.23 0.19 $ 24.13 $ 50,180
Michigan 26,050 6.13 4.97 $ 22.81 $ 47,440
Oregon 1,080 0.57 0.46 $ 22.55 $ 46,900
Maryland 220 0.08 0.07 $ 22.23 $ 46,230



Map of employment of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 13,370 7.16 5.81 $ 24.71 $ 51,390
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 9,450 2.14 1.73 $ 19.70 $ 40,980
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 4,990 9.07 7.35 $ 21.69 $ 45,120
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4,000 1.05 0.85 $ 19.21 $ 39,950
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 3,840 1.26 1.02 $ 18.90 $ 39,300
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 3,610 0.59 0.48 $ 21.71 $ 45,150
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI 3,440 1.83 1.48 $ 21.36 $ 44,430
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 3,310 3.36 2.72 $ 22.08 $ 45,920
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,900 0.32 0.26 $ 20.81 $ 43,280
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI 2,790 3.48 2.82 $ 20.64 $ 42,940


Map of location quotient of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Sheboygan, WI 720 12.24 9.92 $ 22.07 $ 45,910
Elkhart-Goshen, IN 1,690 11.87 9.62 $ 20.06 $ 41,710
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 4,990 9.07 7.35 $ 21.69 $ 45,120
Saginaw, MI 680 8.58 6.95 $ 25.31 $ 52,640
Columbus, IN 400 8.05 6.53 $ 18.67 $ 38,830
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 450 7.66 6.21 $ 18.34 $ 38,160
Grand Island, NE 310 7.43 6.02 $ 21.61 $ 44,960
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 13,370 7.16 5.81 $ 24.71 $ 51,390
Gadsden, AL 220 6.94 5.62 $ 15.56 $ 32,360
Mansfield, OH 330 6.85 5.55 $ 18.84 $ 39,200


Map of annual mean wages of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Flint, MI 480 3.69 2.99 $ 26.80 $ 55,740
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,280 0.63 0.51 $ 25.68 $ 53,410
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 550 0.49 0.39 $ 25.57 $ 53,190
Longview, WA 50 1.12 0.91 $ 25.44 $ 52,920
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN 90 1.31 1.07 $ 25.36 $ 52,760
Saginaw, MI 680 8.58 6.95 $ 25.31 $ 52,640
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 730 0.30 0.25 $ 24.77 $ 51,520
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 13,370 7.16 5.81 $ 24.71 $ 51,390
Santa Rosa, CA 60 0.29 0.23 $ 24.08 $ 50,080
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY 140 0.33 0.26 $ 23.85 $ 49,610

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 3,310 13.44 10.90 $ 19.84 $ 41,280
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 3,010 14.42 11.69 $ 19.05 $ 39,620
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 2,650 8.22 6.66 $ 18.87 $ 39,240
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 2,110 8.04 6.51 $ 19.27 $ 40,080
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 1,250 8.09 6.56 $ 21.34 $ 44,380

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area 3,010 14.42 11.69 $ 19.05 $ 39,620
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 3,310 13.44 10.90 $ 19.84 $ 41,280
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 2,650 8.22 6.66 $ 18.87 $ 39,240
Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area 1,250 8.09 6.56 $ 21.34 $ 44,380
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 2,110 8.04 6.51 $ 19.27 $ 40,080

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 30 0.43 0.35 $ 23.20 $ 48,260
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area 120 0.94 0.76 $ 22.92 $ 47,670
Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area 450 3.01 2.44 $ 22.25 $ 46,270
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 160 0.81 0.65 $ 22.15 $ 46,070
Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area 80 1.21 0.98 $ 21.72 $ 45,170


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023