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Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material. Excludes "Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" (51-7040), "Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic" (51-4031), and "Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" (51-6062).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60,460 | 2.2 % | $16.65 | $34,630 | 0.5 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $10.79 | $13.01 | $16.16 | $19.76 | $23.64 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $22,440 | $27,050 | $33,610 | $41,100 | $49,180 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 10,720 | 2.62 | $16.59 | $34,500 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 10,330 | 3.84 | $17.93 | $37,280 |
| Printing and Related Support Activities | 5,180 | 1.17 | $16.97 | $35,290 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 3,980 | 0.69 | $16.27 | $33,840 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 3,620 | 2.69 | $17.69 | $36,790 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 270 | 7.16 | $15.01 | $31,230 |
| Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 10,330 | 3.84 | $17.93 | $37,280 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 3,620 | 2.69 | $17.69 | $36,790 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 10,720 | 2.62 | $16.59 | $34,500 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 1,860 | 1.92 | $20.52 | $42,680 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 90 | 0.03 | $21.32 | $44,350 |
| Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 1,860 | 1.92 | $20.52 | $42,680 |
| Building Equipment Contractors | 90 | (7) | $18.94 | $39,390 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | (8) | (8) | $18.78 | $39,070 |
| Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 50 | 0.04 | $18.45 | $38,370 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5,160 | 0.31 | 0.73 | $16.16 | $33,610 |
| Ohio | 3,890 | 0.72 | 1.71 | $17.01 | $35,380 |
| Texas | 3,740 | 0.31 | 0.74 | $15.39 | $32,010 |
| North Carolina | 3,390 | 0.79 | 1.86 | $16.53 | $34,380 |
| Wisconsin | 2,890 | 1.02 | 2.41 | $17.91 | $37,260 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 630 | 1.50 | 3.53 | $17.09 | $35,550 |
| Vermont | 370 | 1.22 | 2.89 | $17.06 | $35,490 |
| Wisconsin | 2,890 | 1.02 | 2.41 | $17.91 | $37,260 |
| Alabama | 1,680 | 0.88 | 2.06 | $16.08 | $33,450 |
| North Carolina | 3,390 | 0.79 | 1.86 | $16.53 | $34,380 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 320 | 0.54 | 1.26 | $22.36 | $46,510 |
| Iowa | 800 | 0.52 | 1.22 | $19.62 | $40,810 |
| New Hampshire | 310 | 0.48 | 1.13 | $19.52 | $40,600 |
| Delaware | 70 | 0.16 | 0.38 | $19.10 | $39,730 |
| Maryland | 240 | 0.09 | 0.22 | $19.00 | $39,520 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 1,530 | 0.23 | 0.54 | $15.63 | $32,520 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,410 | 0.32 | 0.75 | $15.40 | $32,040 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,300 | 0.67 | 1.58 | $17.80 | $37,030 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 1,210 | 0.33 | 0.78 | $16.00 | $33,280 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 1,080 | 0.44 | 1.03 | $15.53 | $32,310 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,000 | 0.38 | 0.90 | $16.16 | $33,620 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI | 810 | 0.96 | 2.26 | $16.58 | $34,490 |
| Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA Metropolitan Division | 690 | 0.67 | 1.59 | $18.32 | $38,100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 640 | 0.44 | 1.04 | $13.28 | $27,630 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 620 | 0.58 | 1.38 | $16.41 | $34,130 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 600 | 3.91 | 9.21 | $17.09 | $35,550 |
| Morristown, TN | 120 | 2.84 | 6.68 | $16.01 | $33,300 |
| Fort Smith, AR-OK | 280 | 2.63 | 6.20 | $15.75 | $32,750 |
| Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ | 150 | 2.52 | 5.95 | $15.56 | $32,360 |
| Wausau, WI | 160 | 2.35 | 5.53 | $19.09 | $39,720 |
| Hot Springs, AR | 80 | 2.30 | 5.43 | $12.79 | $26,590 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 160 | 2.21 | 5.20 | $18.31 | $38,070 |
| Asheville, NC | 420 | 2.21 | 5.22 | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| Glens Falls, NY | 100 | 1.87 | 4.41 | $18.17 | $37,790 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 210 | 1.84 | 4.35 | $16.78 | $34,900 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | (8) | (8) | (8) | $23.12 | $48,090 |
| Joplin, MO | 100 | 1.24 | 2.93 | $23.00 | $47,840 |
| Nashua, NH-MA NECTA Division | 80 | 0.62 | 1.46 | $22.49 | $46,780 |
| Elgin, IL Metropolitan Division | 220 | 0.88 | 2.08 | $22.35 | $46,500 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | 160 | 1.69 | 3.99 | $22.14 | $46,050 |
| Portsmouth, NH-ME | 70 | 0.74 | 1.75 | $22.03 | $45,820 |
| Tacoma-Lakewood, WA Metropolitan Division | 330 | 1.11 | 2.61 | $21.65 | $45,030 |
| Mankato-North Mankato, MN | 40 | 0.76 | 1.80 | $21.22 | $44,130 |
| Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, MA-NH NECTA Division | 60 | 0.41 | 0.98 | $21.17 | $44,030 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 420 | 0.37 | 0.86 | $20.73 | $43,130 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 640 | 3.95 | 9.31 | $13.29 | $27,640 |
| North Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | 590 | 2.20 | 5.18 | $14.09 | $29,300 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 500 | 3.78 | 8.92 | $17.45 | $36,290 |
| North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 470 | 1.41 | 3.32 | $16.78 | $34,900 |
| Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 440 | 1.91 | 4.50 | $12.82 | $26,670 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | 640 | 3.95 | 9.31 | $13.29 | $27,640 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | 500 | 3.78 | 8.92 | $17.45 | $36,290 |
| East Washington nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 2.68 | 6.31 | $14.25 | $29,650 |
| Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 380 | 2.60 | 6.13 | $13.34 | $27,760 |
| Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 2.39 | 5.63 | $16.92 | $35,200 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 230 | 1.20 | 2.83 | $24.20 | $50,340 |
| Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.95 | 2.23 | $21.12 | $43,930 |
| Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.32 | 0.76 | $20.98 | $43,640 |
| Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 240 | 1.20 | 2.82 | $20.77 | $43,200 |
| Southeast Coastal North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | 360 | 1.46 | 3.43 | $20.47 | $42,570 |
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.
(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.
(8) Estimate not released.
(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 OES estimates and related information:
May 2017 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2017 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 30, 2018