Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $47,180 ($22.68 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $47,180
- Mean annual wage
- $50,030
- Median hourly wage
- $22.68
- Employment
- 124,590
124,590 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,780 | $17.20 |
| 25th percentile | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Median (50th) | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| 75th percentile | $57,800 | $27.79 |
| 90th percentile | $74,450 | $35.79 |
Highest-paying states for multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $76,080 | 1,920 |
| Kentucky | $54,960 | 5,510 |
| Missouri | $53,160 | 7,220 |
| Maryland | $51,780 | 400 |
| Nebraska | $50,960 | 1,250 |
| Virginia | $50,600 | 1,030 |
| Washington | $50,540 | 830 |
| Vermont | $50,450 | 110 |
| Idaho | $50,410 | 480 |
| New York | $49,890 | 3,660 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $36,330 median annual wage
- Rhode Island: $38,720 median annual wage
- Georgia: $38,810 median annual wage
- Wyoming: $40,000 median annual wage
- Nevada: $40,310 median annual wage
About this occupation
Set up, operate, or tend more than one type of cutting or forming machine tool or robot.
Typical tasks
- Align layout marks with dies or blades.
- Start machines and turn handwheels or valves to engage feeding, cooling, and lubricating mechanisms.
- Measure and mark reference points and cutting lines on workpieces, using traced templates, compasses, and rules.
- Perform minor machine maintenance, such as oiling or cleaning machines, dies, or workpieces, or adding coolant to machine reservoirs.
- Make minor electrical and mechanical repairs and adjustments to machines and notify supervisors when major service is required.
- Read blueprints or job orders to determine product specifications and tooling instructions and to plan operational sequences.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 16.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 49.5% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.4% |
| Associate's degree | 8.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 5.2% |
| Master's degree | 0.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.1% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.