Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in California (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
California Median
$48,450
per year
Hourly Rate
$23.29
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+5% vs US median
US median $46,330
State Rank
#11 of 49
7,710 employed here

How much do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in California?

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic working in California earn a median salary of $48,450 per year, or about $23.29 per hour. That is 5% above the national median of $46,330 for this occupation.

Within California, entry-level pay starts around $37,090 while the top 10% make $68,500 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $43,710 and $58,450 a year.

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary range in California

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$37,090$17.83
25th percentile (early career)$43,710$21.01
50th percentile (median)$48,450$23.29
75th percentile (experienced)$58,450$28.10
90th percentile (top earners)$68,500$32.93

How California compares

California ranks 11th out of 49 states and territories for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Oregon$53,680
2Maine$51,820
3Washington$51,160
4Colorado$50,790
5Minnesota$49,770

Working as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California

Nationally, about 171,000 people work as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare California pay ($48,450) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in California?
The median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in California is $48,450 per year, or about $23.29 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,090 at the entry level to $68,500 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic about 5% more than the national median of $46,330. California ranks 11th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $48,450 a year. About 7,710 Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.