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

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

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Kentucky Median
$45,760
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.00
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $46,330
State Rank
#30 of 49
7,290 employed here

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

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Kentucky take home a median of $45,760 annually — roughly $22.00 an hour — which runs 1% below the national median of $46,330.

Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $34,920 while the top 10% make $66,280 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $39,300 and $60,230 a year.

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

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$34,920$16.79
25th percentile (early career)$39,300$18.89
50th percentile (median)$45,760$22.00
75th percentile (experienced)$60,230$28.96
90th percentile (top earners)$66,280$31.87

How Kentucky compares

Kentucky ranks 30th 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 Kentucky

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 Kentucky pay ($45,760) 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 Kentucky?
The median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Kentucky is $45,760 per year, or about $22.00 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $34,920 at the entry level to $66,280 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic about 1% less than the national median of $46,330. Kentucky ranks 30th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $45,760 a year. About 7,290 Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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

Related salaries

Plant and System Operators, All Other

$62,470
median pay · 14,000 employed

Furniture Finisher

$44,540
median pay · 14,000 employed

Patternmaker, Wood

$49,630
median pay · specialist role
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.