Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
SOC 51-4031BLS OEWS May 2025
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
National median · BLS
$46,330
▲ +1.62%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$48,430
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
171,200
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$35,760
25th
$38,870
Median (50th)
$46,330
75th
$55,410
90th — top pay
$65,510
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
BLS projects employment of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic to decline 10.5% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 13,200 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
171,000 → 153,100
-17,900 jobs
Projected change
-10.5%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
13,200
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
0.4% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries by metro area
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Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Operations Monitoring3.5
Operation and Control3.4
Active Listening3.0
Critical Thinking3.0
Monitoring3.0
Quality Control Analysis3.0
Speaking3.0
Troubleshooting3.0
Judgment and Decision Making2.9
Active Learning2.8
Top knowledge areas
Production and Processing3.3
Mechanical3.0
English Language3.0
Mathematics2.4
Engineering and Technology2.4
Education and Training2.3
Design2.1
Computers and Electronics2.0
Software and technology used
Autodesk AutoCADMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordSAP softwareAutomated inventory softwareComputerized numerical control CNC softwareOperational databasesStriker Systems SS-Punch
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do
Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.
Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws.
Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances.
Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data.
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools.
Load workpieces, plastic material, or chemical solutions into machines.
Turn controls to set cutting speeds, feed rates, or table angles for specified operations.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $46,330.
