Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic · North Carolina

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in North Carolina

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $43,400 —6.3% below the national median of $46,330. That ranks NC #40 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$43,400
Median hourly
$20.86
Entry level (P10)
$35,180
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$62,120
90th percentile
Employment
3,940
0.8 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-6.3%
U.S. $46,330

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$35,180
$37,390
$43,400
$50,090
$35,180$43,400$62,120
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $43,400.

Employment is only 0.72× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Highest-paying states for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Oregon$53,680$25.811,1800.55
2Maine$51,820$24.921800.25
3Washington$51,160$24.601,7500.45
4Colorado$50,790$24.421,4000.44
5Minnesota$49,770$23.936,1301.89
6Wisconsin$49,270$23.697,9602.46
7Alaska$49,010$23.56800.21
8Illinois$48,990$23.558,0601.20
9Nebraska$48,690$23.411,3201.17
10Montana$48,490$23.311300.23

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

Frequently asked questions

How much do cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in North Carolina is $43,400, or $20.86 per hour. That is 6.3% below the national median of $46,330.

What is the entry-level cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $35,180 per year ($16.91/hour). The 25th percentile is $37,390.

How many people work as cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in North Carolina?

About 3,940 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 0.8 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?

North Carolina ranks #40 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.72x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Which state pays cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?

Oregon has the highest median wage at $53,680 per year, followed by Maine ($51,820) and Washington ($51,160).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes