283 metro areas
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic Salary by City (2026)
Cutting earn the most in San Jose, CA, an average of $68,600 a year, against $48,430 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Rome, GA ($68,630 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.
- US average (mean)
- $48,430BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Highest-paying city
- $68,600San Jose, CA
- Best after cost of living
- $68,630Rome, GA
- Metro areas
- 283With their own estimate
Top cities
Highest-paying cities for cutting
Top 10 metro areas
- San Jose, CA$68,600
- Rome, GA$61,880
- Flint, MI$61,670
- Albany, OR$61,480
- Denver, CO$61,440
- Oshkosh, WI$58,680
- Seattle, WA$58,090
- Portland, OR-WA$57,430
- Kansas City, MO-KS$56,720
- Detroit, MI$56,620
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $68,600 |
| Rome, GA | $61,880 |
| Flint, MI | $61,670 |
| Albany, OR | $61,480 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $61,440 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $58,680 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,090 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $57,430 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $56,720 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $56,620 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Mean wage ÷ BEA price level
- Rome, GA$61,880 nominal$68,630
- Flint, MI$61,670 nominal$66,290
- Oshkosh, WI$58,680 nominal$63,140
- San Jose, CA$68,600 nominal$62,120
- Sandusky, OH$55,310 nominal$61,950
- Kansas City, MO-KS$56,720 nominal$61,290
- Mankato, MN$55,270 nominal$60,770
- St. Cloud, MN$53,040 nominal$60,530
- Saginaw, MI$54,910 nominal$60,410
- Albany, OR$61,480 nominal$60,220
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Rome, GA | $68,630 |
| Flint, MI | $66,290 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $63,140 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,120 |
| Sandusky, OH | $61,950 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $61,290 |
| Mankato, MN | $60,770 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $60,530 |
| Saginaw, MI | $60,410 |
| Albany, OR | $60,220 |
Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024
Every city
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic salary in every metro area
Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.
| # | Metro area | Mean | Entry (Level I) | Experienced (Level IV) | At US prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $68,600 | $47,760 | $78,850 | $62,120 |
| 2 | Rome, GA | $61,880 | $41,850 | $71,740 | $68,630 |
| 3 | Flint, MI | $61,670 | $37,400 | $73,630 | $66,290 |
| 4 | Albany, OR | $61,480 | $45,740 | $69,240 | $60,220 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $61,440 | $47,010 | $68,540 | $58,080 |
| 6 | Oshkosh, WI | $58,680 | $45,970 | $64,940 | $63,140 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $58,090 | $45,860 | $64,130 | $52,270 |
| 8 | Portland, OR-WA | $57,430 | $46,840 | $62,650 | $54,480 |
| 9 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $56,720 | $41,390 | $64,270 | $61,290 |
| 10 | Detroit, MI | $56,620 | $37,920 | $65,810 | $56,450 |
| 11 | Modesto, CA | $56,370 | $42,520 | $63,190 | $54,150 |
| 12 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $56,040 | $41,580 | $63,150 | $60,210 |
| 13 | Lewiston, ME | $55,850 | $45,700 | $60,860 | $58,950 |
| 14 | Bellingham, WA | $55,760 | $42,910 | $62,090 | $53,960 |
| 15 | Longview, WA | $55,740 | $43,890 | $61,570 | $57,140 |
| 16 | Scranton, PA | $55,390 | $40,730 | $62,610 | $59,210 |
| 17 | Sandusky, OH | $55,310 | $40,960 | $62,360 | $61,950 |
| 18 | Mankato, MN | $55,270 | $45,340 | $60,150 | $60,770 |
| 19 | Mount Vernon, WA | $54,910 | $44,030 | $60,280 | $53,600 |
| 20 | Saginaw, MI | $54,910 | $37,230 | $63,610 | $60,410 |
| 21 | Kiryas Joel, NY | $54,580 | $39,460 | $62,030 | $49,880 |
| 22 | Albany, NY | $54,140 | $40,060 | $61,090 | $54,380 |
| 23 | Sheboygan, WI | $54,100 | $45,030 | $58,550 | $57,540 |
| 24 | Boulder, CO | $54,080 | $46,260 | $57,950 | $51,410 |
| 25 | Lafayette, IN | $53,960 | $43,350 | $59,180 | $57,750 |
| 26 | Reading, PA | $53,910 | $42,560 | $59,490 | $55,540 |
| 27 | Portland, ME | $53,870 | $44,530 | $58,470 | $52,890 |
| 28 | Buffalo, NY | $53,770 | $39,980 | $60,570 | $56,100 |
| 29 | Lincoln, NE | $53,750 | $41,270 | $59,900 | $58,690 |
| 30 | Santa Rosa, CA | $53,710 | $43,760 | $58,610 | $49,830 |
| 31 | Vallejo, CA | $53,680 | $43,490 | $58,700 | $49,480 |
| 32 | Winston, NC | $53,580 | $36,110 | $62,170 | $58,210 |
| 33 | Lansing, MI | $53,410 | $36,320 | $61,840 | $56,230 |
| 34 | Chicago, IL-IN | $53,350 | $40,080 | $59,880 | $51,500 |
| 35 | Appleton, WI | $53,290 | $45,880 | $56,930 | $57,660 |
| 36 | Allentown, PA-NJ | $53,270 | $40,640 | $59,490 | $53,290 |
| 37 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $53,210 | $39,920 | $59,760 | $55,960 |
| 38 | St. Cloud, MN | $53,040 | $45,490 | $56,760 | $60,530 |
| 39 | Bend, OR | $52,810 | $46,760 | $55,790 | $50,970 |
| 40 | Glens Falls, NY | $52,540 | $42,350 | $57,550 | $55,380 |
| 41 | Lynchburg, VA | $52,480 | $39,290 | $58,990 | $58,730 |
| 42 | Sacramento, CA | $52,440 | $41,350 | $57,890 | $49,160 |
| 43 | Salem, OR | $52,440 | $44,600 | $56,310 | $50,590 |
| 44 | Rochester, MN | $52,370 | $42,830 | $57,050 | $57,660 |
| 45 | Topeka, KS | $52,190 | $39,330 | $58,530 | $58,760 |
| 46 | Duluth, MN-WI | $52,100 | $43,950 | $56,120 | $58,690 |
| 47 | Napa, CA | $52,080 | $42,600 | $56,760 | $46,270 |
| 48 | Pueblo, CO | $52,000 | $40,640 | $57,600 | $56,670 |
| 49 | Davenport, IA-IL | $51,920 | $39,080 | $58,260 | $58,290 |
| 50 | Los Angeles, CA | $51,920 | $40,080 | $57,740 | $45,720 |
| 51 | Boston, MA-NH | $51,710 | $40,600 | $57,180 | $47,760 |
| 52 | San Diego, CA | $51,690 | $40,500 | $57,200 | $46,200 |
| 53 | Ogden, UT | $51,630 | $39,890 | $57,390 | $51,450 |
| 54 | Green Bay, WI | $51,580 | $42,660 | $55,970 | $55,410 |
| 55 | Ithaca, NY | $51,310 | $42,580 | $55,620 | $49,660 |
| 56 | Kenosha, WI | $51,310 | $42,100 | $55,870 | $50,740 |
| 57 | Bridgeport, CT | $51,230 | $41,620 | $55,970 | $47,940 |
| 58 | Fargo, ND-MN | $51,190 | $46,920 | $53,270 | $56,330 |
| 59 | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $51,060 | $39,100 | $56,970 | $49,790 |
| 60 | Racine, WI | $51,040 | $40,020 | $56,470 | $53,190 |
| 61 | Janesville, WI | $50,960 | $42,890 | $54,930 | $54,380 |
| 62 | Anchorage, AK | $50,940 | $43,620 | $54,560 | $48,320 |
| 63 | Utica, NY | $50,900 | $35,570 | $58,470 | $54,920 |
| 64 | Medford, OR | $50,730 | $42,680 | $54,680 | $50,010 |
| 65 | Chambersburg, PA | $50,710 | $37,420 | $57,260 | $53,580 |
| 66 | Greeley, CO | $50,690 | $41,430 | $55,270 | $50,600 |
| 67 | Spokane, WA | $50,630 | $40,410 | $55,680 | $50,460 |
| 68 | Fond du Lac, WI | $50,590 | $39,120 | $56,220 | $55,200 |
| 69 | Staunton, VA | $50,520 | $40,250 | $55,580 | $55,440 |
| 70 | Greenville, SC | $50,420 | $37,440 | $56,800 | $54,060 |
| 71 | Oxnard, CA | $50,400 | $40,270 | $55,370 | $45,600 |
| 72 | San Francisco, CA | $50,270 | $36,630 | $56,990 | $43,480 |
| 73 | Milwaukee, WI | $50,170 | $40,750 | $54,810 | $51,760 |
| 74 | Kokomo, IN | $50,150 | $39,770 | $55,240 | $55,940 |
| 75 | Minneapolis, MN-WI | $50,090 | $36,630 | $56,700 | $47,790 |
| 76 | Billings, MT | $50,040 | $43,470 | $53,270 | $53,500 |
| 77 | Fayetteville, AR | $50,020 | $41,180 | $54,370 | $54,750 |
| 78 | Madison, WI | $50,020 | $41,020 | $54,480 | $51,410 |
| 79 | Salt Lake City, UT | $50,020 | $41,870 | $54,040 | $49,590 |
| 80 | Bowling Green, KY | $49,920 | $32,340 | $58,570 | $55,360 |
| 81 | Omaha, NE-IA | $49,920 | $37,090 | $56,240 | $54,310 |
| 82 | Lancaster, PA | $49,860 | $39,480 | $54,970 | $50,740 |
| 83 | New York, NY-NJ | $49,750 | $38,750 | $55,180 | $44,200 |
| 84 | Colorado Springs, CO | $49,630 | $42,040 | $53,370 | $49,280 |
| 85 | Fort Collins, CO | $49,590 | $42,470 | $53,100 | $49,040 |
| 86 | Kankakee, IL | $49,520 | $40,390 | $54,040 | $51,370 |
| 87 | Worcester, MA | $49,500 | $37,650 | $55,330 | $48,280 |
| 88 | Gainesville, GA | $49,480 | $38,650 | $54,810 | $51,130 |
| 89 | Kingston, NY | $49,420 | $39,350 | $54,390 | $49,070 |
| 90 | Roanoke, VA | $49,400 | $41,560 | $53,250 | $52,770 |
| 91 | Waterloo, IA | $49,250 | $41,750 | $52,960 | $56,570 |
| 92 | Norwich, CT | $49,230 | $41,870 | $52,870 | $49,010 |
| 93 | Yakima, WA | $49,000 | $41,870 | $52,520 | $51,280 |
| 94 | New Haven, CT | $48,960 | $38,080 | $54,330 | $46,830 |
| 95 | Charlotte, NC-SC | $48,900 | $37,360 | $54,580 | $50,230 |
| 96 | Dubuque, IA | $48,900 | $41,890 | $52,350 | $56,000 |
| 97 | Evansville, IN | $48,900 | $37,840 | $54,350 | $53,430 |
| 98 | Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | $48,800 | $35,400 | $55,390 | $44,820 |
| 99 | Providence, RI-MA | $48,670 | $38,040 | $53,890 | $47,820 |
| 100 | Stockton, CA | $48,630 | $39,870 | $52,960 | $46,280 |
| 101 | Des Moines, IA | $48,480 | $37,940 | $53,660 | $52,870 |
| 102 | Champaign, IL | $48,460 | $37,770 | $53,730 | $52,270 |
| 103 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,460 | $37,730 | $53,730 | $50,810 |
| 104 | Merced, CA | $48,420 | $35,840 | $54,600 | $49,270 |
| 105 | Asheville, NC | $48,380 | $38,130 | $53,440 | $50,130 |
| 106 | Carson City, NV | $48,380 | $38,270 | $53,370 | $49,300 |
| 107 | Hartford, CT | $48,170 | $37,750 | $53,310 | $46,880 |
| 108 | Pittsburgh, PA | $48,130 | $35,980 | $54,100 | $50,840 |
| 109 | York, PA | $48,070 | $38,900 | $52,580 | $50,070 |
| 110 | Virginia Beach, VA-NC | $47,990 | $35,860 | $53,980 | $49,000 |
| 111 | Wausau, WI | $47,920 | $41,060 | $51,310 | $51,720 |
| 112 | Atlanta, GA | $47,900 | $38,230 | $52,670 | $47,870 |
| 113 | Baltimore, MD | $47,860 | $38,020 | $52,710 | $45,800 |
| 114 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,800 | $38,170 | $52,540 | $46,270 |
| 115 | Riverside, CA | $47,800 | $38,310 | $52,480 | $44,910 |
| 116 | Fresno, CA | $47,610 | $37,790 | $52,440 | $46,600 |
| 117 | Ann Arbor, MI | $47,590 | $36,340 | $53,140 | $47,170 |
| 118 | Richmond, VA | $47,400 | $36,070 | $52,980 | $48,440 |
| 119 | Rockford, IL | $47,340 | $37,630 | $52,150 | $51,370 |
| 120 | Indianapolis, IN | $47,320 | $38,420 | $51,710 | $49,450 |
| 121 | Columbia, MO | $47,300 | $38,400 | $51,690 | $52,890 |
| 122 | New Orleans, LA | $47,280 | $36,150 | $52,770 | $51,060 |
| 123 | Tucson, AZ | $47,200 | $36,820 | $52,290 | $48,710 |
| 124 | Jonesboro, AR | $47,170 | $38,750 | $51,310 | $54,930 |
| 125 | Baton Rouge, LA | $47,150 | $36,860 | $52,230 | $51,940 |
| 126 | Durham, NC | $47,090 | $38,920 | $51,130 | $48,260 |
| 127 | Eugene, OR | $47,090 | $41,910 | $49,650 | $46,360 |
| 128 | Columbus, OH | $47,030 | $37,810 | $51,560 | $49,260 |
| 129 | Manchester, NH | $47,010 | $38,000 | $51,440 | $44,490 |
| 130 | Austin, TX | $46,990 | $37,670 | $51,580 | $47,920 |
| 131 | Amherst Town, MA | $46,970 | $38,810 | $50,980 | $46,860 |
| 132 | Lawrence, KS | $46,950 | $42,350 | $49,210 | $52,030 |
| 133 | Provo, UT | $46,900 | $41,640 | $49,500 | $47,740 |
| 134 | Columbus, IN | $46,880 | $35,980 | $52,250 | $50,410 |
| 135 | Eau Claire, WI | $46,860 | $38,690 | $50,880 | $50,500 |
| 136 | Rochester, NY | $46,860 | $36,320 | $52,060 | $48,290 |
| 137 | Gettysburg, PA | $46,780 | $36,340 | $51,920 | $49,050 |
| 138 | Peoria, IL | $46,720 | $39,420 | $50,320 | $51,210 |
| 139 | Manhattan, KS | $46,700 | $37,960 | $51,000 | $51,800 |
| 140 | Canton, OH | $46,680 | $35,440 | $52,230 | $52,210 |
| 141 | Harrisburg, PA | $46,680 | $38,730 | $50,610 | $47,320 |
| 142 | Reno, NV | $46,680 | $36,550 | $51,670 | $46,210 |
| 143 | Cleveland, OH | $46,630 | $35,650 | $52,040 | $49,650 |
| 144 | Bakersfield, CA | $46,590 | $37,610 | $51,040 | $46,180 |
| 145 | Grand Rapids, MI | $46,510 | $36,550 | $51,420 | $48,680 |
| 146 | Akron, OH | $46,450 | $34,990 | $52,100 | $49,750 |
| 147 | Huntsville, AL | $46,380 | $36,800 | $51,110 | $49,830 |
| 148 | Nashville, TN | $46,320 | $37,110 | $50,860 | $48,080 |
| 149 | Waterbury, CT | $46,280 | $36,570 | $51,060 | $46,380 |
| 150 | Muskegon, MI | $46,220 | $37,670 | $50,420 | $49,960 |
| 151 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $46,220 | $34,200 | $52,120 | $55,020 |
| 152 | Las Vegas, NV | $46,200 | $36,280 | $51,080 | $46,100 |
| 153 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $46,180 | $39,920 | $49,280 | $50,950 |
| 154 | Wichita, KS | $46,180 | $36,190 | $51,110 | $51,920 |
| 155 | Decatur, AL | $46,160 | $38,190 | $50,070 | $52,930 |
| 156 | Toledo, OH | $46,160 | $36,420 | $50,960 | $50,470 |
| 157 | Oklahoma City, OK | $46,130 | $33,470 | $52,350 | $51,020 |
| 158 | Amarillo, TX | $46,010 | $33,470 | $52,190 | $50,110 |
| 159 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $45,880 | $37,770 | $49,860 | $51,570 |
| 160 | Williamsport, PA | $45,880 | $36,190 | $50,650 | $49,680 |
| 161 | Springfield, MA | $45,840 | $36,360 | $50,520 | $47,720 |
| 162 | Elkhart, IN | $45,820 | $36,940 | $50,190 | $50,730 |
| 163 | Odessa, TX | $45,660 | $35,980 | $50,400 | $48,630 |
| 164 | South Bend, IN-MI | $45,570 | $36,750 | $49,900 | $49,070 |
| 165 | Tulsa, OK | $45,570 | $35,150 | $50,690 | $51,080 |
| 166 | Dover, DE | $45,510 | $39,850 | $48,300 | $46,670 |
| 167 | Hagerstown, MD-WV | $45,490 | $39,330 | $48,510 | $48,310 |
| 168 | Grand Junction, CO | $45,450 | $39,540 | $48,380 | $47,600 |
| 169 | Huntington, WV-KY-OH | $45,390 | $34,170 | $50,920 | $51,330 |
| 170 | Bloomington, IN | $45,300 | $36,170 | $49,800 | $47,640 |
| 171 | Tampa, FL | $45,220 | $36,360 | $49,590 | $44,820 |
| 172 | Florence, SC | $45,140 | $36,030 | $49,610 | $52,020 |
| 173 | Midland, TX | $45,140 | $35,210 | $50,020 | $47,130 |
| 174 | Birmingham, AL | $45,070 | $37,320 | $48,880 | $49,180 |
| 175 | Lebanon, PA | $45,010 | $34,900 | $50,000 | $48,290 |
| 176 | Fort Wayne, IN | $44,930 | $37,710 | $48,480 | $48,540 |
| 177 | La Crosse, WI-MN | $44,870 | $38,170 | $48,170 | $48,890 |
| 178 | Pocatello, ID | $44,660 | $41,310 | $46,320 | $50,230 |
| 179 | Binghamton, NY | $44,640 | $34,760 | $49,500 | $48,070 |
| 180 | Dayton, OH | $44,620 | $35,440 | $49,130 | $48,140 |
| 181 | Jackson, MS | $44,620 | $33,550 | $50,040 | $50,110 |
| 182 | Dallas, TX | $44,470 | $35,630 | $48,820 | $43,140 |
| 183 | Erie, PA | $44,470 | $32,340 | $50,460 | $48,890 |
| 184 | Killeen, TX | $44,410 | $35,590 | $48,760 | $48,730 |
| 185 | Daphne, AL | $44,390 | $35,630 | $48,710 | $46,880 |
| 186 | Mobile, AL | $44,390 | $36,320 | $48,360 | $50,390 |
| 187 | Springfield, MO | $44,350 | $37,460 | $47,740 | $50,060 |
| 188 | Muncie, IN | $44,320 | $35,280 | $48,780 | $50,280 |
| 189 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $44,320 | $34,740 | $49,050 | $51,260 |
| 190 | Kalamazoo, MI | $44,220 | $35,670 | $48,440 | $46,630 |
| 191 | Syracuse, NY | $44,220 | $35,530 | $48,480 | $46,190 |
| 192 | Sherman, TX | $44,200 | $33,630 | $49,400 | $47,140 |
| 193 | Jacksonville, FL | $44,180 | $35,650 | $48,360 | $44,410 |
| 194 | Joplin, MO-KS | $44,180 | $35,630 | $48,380 | $51,540 |
| 195 | Knoxville, TN | $44,030 | $36,400 | $47,800 | $47,560 |
| 196 | Boise City, ID | $43,990 | $35,610 | $48,130 | $44,710 |
| 197 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $43,930 | $36,400 | $47,650 | $48,300 |
| 198 | Houston, TX | $43,930 | $35,420 | $48,110 | $44,540 |
| 199 | Jackson, MI | $43,910 | $36,050 | $47,780 | $47,840 |
| 200 | Spartanburg, SC | $43,870 | $39,420 | $46,070 | $48,180 |
| 201 | Wilmington, NC | $43,850 | $35,380 | $48,010 | $45,480 |
| 202 | Kingsport, TN-VA | $43,680 | $37,500 | $46,720 | $50,530 |
| 203 | Logan, UT-ID | $43,660 | $37,070 | $46,900 | $45,510 |
| 204 | Gulfport, MS | $43,560 | $31,970 | $49,250 | $48,400 |
| 205 | Michigan City, IN | $43,560 | $35,960 | $47,300 | $47,510 |
| 206 | Wichita Falls, TX | $43,530 | $33,110 | $48,670 | $48,630 |
| 207 | Lexington, KY | $43,510 | $35,610 | $47,400 | $46,840 |
| 208 | Morristown, TN | $43,510 | $36,360 | $47,030 | $50,380 |
| 209 | Trenton, NJ | $43,510 | $37,670 | $46,380 | $42,170 |
| 210 | Montgomery, AL | $43,390 | $34,490 | $47,780 | $48,380 |
| 211 | Youngstown, OH | $43,390 | $33,280 | $48,380 | $49,650 |
| 212 | Lima, OH | $43,330 | $31,320 | $49,250 | $48,320 |
| 213 | Raleigh, NC | $43,260 | $35,210 | $47,240 | $44,070 |
| 214 | Visalia, CA | $43,200 | $36,420 | $46,550 | $43,280 |
| 215 | Anniston, AL | $43,180 | $37,110 | $46,180 | $50,240 |
| 216 | Columbia, SC | $43,080 | $35,630 | $46,760 | $46,000 |
| 217 | Elmira, NY | $43,010 | $35,210 | $46,840 | $45,560 |
| 218 | Hickory, NC | $43,010 | $35,880 | $46,530 | $48,610 |
| 219 | Altoona, PA | $42,930 | $31,320 | $48,670 | $47,960 |
| 220 | Little Rock, AR | $42,910 | $35,340 | $46,630 | $48,020 |
| 221 | Burlington, NC | $42,890 | $35,670 | $46,470 | $46,020 |
| 222 | San Antonio, TX | $42,870 | $35,070 | $46,720 | $45,260 |
| 223 | Houma, LA | $42,850 | $33,490 | $47,440 | $50,350 |
| 224 | Niles, MI | $42,850 | $35,320 | $46,550 | $46,390 |
| 225 | Ocala, FL | $42,850 | $35,190 | $46,630 | $44,990 |
| 226 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $42,830 | $35,130 | $46,630 | $46,830 |
| 227 | Longview, TX | $42,760 | $33,820 | $47,170 | $47,780 |
| 228 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $42,740 | $38,790 | $44,700 | $46,880 |
| 229 | Paducah, KY-IL | $42,720 | $32,530 | $47,740 | $49,630 |
| 230 | Mansfield, OH | $42,640 | $34,780 | $46,510 | $47,980 |
| 231 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $42,620 | $35,210 | $46,280 | $48,590 |
| 232 | Jackson, TN | $42,540 | $35,190 | $46,160 | $49,740 |
| 233 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $42,470 | $35,400 | $45,970 | $49,450 |
| 234 | Traverse City, MI | $42,410 | $33,700 | $46,700 | $45,420 |
| 235 | Battle Creek, MI | $42,330 | $34,490 | $46,180 | $46,750 |
| 236 | Shreveport, LA | $42,290 | $35,460 | $45,660 | $49,890 |
| 237 | Bay City, MI | $42,240 | $32,340 | $47,110 | $45,950 |
| 238 | Owensboro, KY | $42,240 | $31,510 | $47,530 | $47,670 |
| 239 | Greensboro, NC | $42,180 | $35,460 | $45,490 | $45,420 |
| 240 | Savannah, GA | $42,180 | $34,220 | $46,110 | $44,300 |
| 241 | Orlando, FL | $42,140 | $34,200 | $46,030 | $41,550 |
| 242 | Lakeland, FL | $42,020 | $33,920 | $46,010 | $43,260 |
| 243 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $42,000 | $34,470 | $45,720 | $45,560 |
| 244 | Cleveland, TN | $41,890 | $34,590 | $45,490 | $47,560 |
| 245 | Springfield, OH | $41,850 | $33,010 | $46,220 | $46,250 |
| 246 | Jefferson City, MO | $41,810 | $35,960 | $44,680 | $47,520 |
| 247 | Dalton, GA | $41,660 | $38,210 | $43,370 | $46,370 |
| 248 | State College, PA | $41,660 | $33,380 | $45,740 | $43,050 |
| 249 | Macon, GA | $41,620 | $33,510 | $45,610 | $47,010 |
| 250 | Palm Bay, FL | $41,450 | $33,510 | $45,360 | $41,450 |
| 251 | Abilene, TX | $41,390 | $36,030 | $44,030 | $45,800 |
| 252 | Albuquerque, NM | $41,310 | $35,170 | $44,320 | $43,240 |
| 253 | Athens, GA | $41,230 | $34,400 | $44,570 | $44,170 |
| 254 | Idaho Falls, ID | $41,060 | $34,170 | $44,450 | $43,490 |
| 255 | Miami, FL | $41,040 | $33,800 | $44,620 | $35,950 |
| 256 | Waco, TX | $40,980 | $33,920 | $44,450 | $44,280 |
| 257 | Pittsfield, MA | $40,830 | $37,440 | $42,490 | $42,930 |
| 258 | Augusta, GA-SC | $40,790 | $32,660 | $44,780 | $44,380 |
| 259 | Charleston, SC | $40,790 | $30,330 | $45,930 | $40,400 |
| 260 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $40,730 | $35,900 | $43,120 | $41,440 |
| 261 | Goldsboro, NC | $40,710 | $36,380 | $42,850 | $46,020 |
| 262 | Monroe, MI | $40,540 | $32,760 | $44,390 | $43,360 |
| 263 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $40,500 | $34,200 | $43,620 | $40,410 |
| 264 | Corpus Christi, TX | $40,290 | $30,830 | $44,970 | $43,480 |
| 265 | College Station, TX | $40,140 | $33,220 | $43,580 | $44,130 |
| 266 | Tyler, TX | $39,980 | $33,760 | $43,040 | $43,380 |
| 267 | Johnson City, TN | $39,920 | $32,820 | $43,410 | $45,400 |
| 268 | Rocky Mount, NC | $39,810 | $32,200 | $43,560 | $45,230 |
| 269 | Lubbock, TX | $39,690 | $29,600 | $44,660 | $43,460 |
| 270 | Deltona, FL | $39,460 | $34,800 | $41,750 | $39,710 |
| 271 | North Port, FL | $39,400 | $33,340 | $42,390 | $38,470 |
| 272 | Florence, AL | $39,230 | $32,470 | $42,560 | $46,250 |
| 273 | Twin Falls, ID | $39,000 | $35,190 | $40,870 | $42,340 |
| 274 | Dothan, AL | $38,770 | $34,670 | $40,790 | $46,250 |
| 275 | Gadsden, AL | $38,670 | $31,240 | $42,330 | $45,150 |
| 276 | Columbus, GA-AL | $38,150 | $32,260 | $41,060 | $42,720 |
| 277 | Auburn, AL | $37,920 | $30,220 | $41,720 | $43,120 |
| 278 | Johnstown, PA | $37,610 | $28,270 | $42,220 | $43,770 |
| 279 | Brownsville, TX | $36,280 | $28,720 | $40,000 | $42,200 |
| 280 | El Paso, TX | $35,530 | $26,080 | $40,160 | $39,520 |
| 281 | Valdosta, GA | $34,860 | $30,620 | $36,940 | $39,490 |
| 282 | McAllen, TX | $34,630 | $27,040 | $38,360 | $40,320 |
| 283 | San Juan, PR | $26,670 | $21,960 | $28,970 | N/A |
More
More on cutting
Method
About these numbers
- Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
- Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
- OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
- At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.
Questions
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender, Metal and Plastic salary by city: FAQ
Which city pays cutting the most?
San Jose, CA, where the average (mean) wage is $68,600 a year, followed by Rome, GA ($61,880), Flint, MI ($61,670), Albany, OR ($61,480). The national mean is $48,430 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where do cutting earn the most after cost of living?
Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Rome, GA ($68,630 at national prices, $61,880 nominal), Flint, MI ($66,290 at national prices, $61,670 nominal), Oshkosh, WI ($63,140 at national prices, $58,680 nominal).
How much do cutting make in the biggest cities?
New York, NY-NJ: $49,750; Los Angeles, CA: $51,920; Chicago, IL-IN: $53,350; Dallas, TX: $44,470; Houston, TX: $43,930 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).
Where do cutting earn the least?
Of the 283 metro areas with their own estimate, San Juan, PR has the lowest mean wage, $26,670.