North Carolina Median
$43,400
per year
Hourly Rate
$20.87
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-6% vs US median
US median $46,330
State Rank
#40 of 49
3,940 employed here
How much do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in North Carolina?
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in North Carolina take home a median of $43,400 annually — roughly $20.87 an hour — which runs 6% below the national median of $46,330.
Within North Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $35,180 while the top 10% make $62,120 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,390 and $50,090 a year.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary range in North Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,180 | $16.91 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $37,390 | $17.98 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $43,400 | $20.87 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $50,090 | $24.08 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,120 | $29.87 |
|
How North Carolina compares
North Carolina ranks 40th 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:
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other states
Oregon $53,680Maine $51,820Washington $51,160Colorado $50,790Minnesota $49,770Wisconsin $49,270Alaska $49,010Illinois $48,990Nebraska $48,690Montana $48,490California $48,450North Dakota $48,400Missouri $48,310Iowa $48,240Rhode Island $48,170New Hampshire $48,110Pennsylvania $47,860Nevada $47,690Maryland $47,320Virginia $47,300Indiana $46,980New York $46,930Wyoming $46,890Kansas $46,840Utah $46,670Arizona $46,610Connecticut $46,280Michigan $46,120South Dakota $46,060Kentucky $45,760Massachusetts $45,760New Jersey $45,680Arkansas $45,580Ohio $45,230Georgia $45,080Tennessee $44,780South Carolina $44,420Alabama $43,830Vermont $43,560West Virginia $43,070Texas $42,720Delaware $41,640Oklahoma $40,930Louisiana $40,870Mississippi $40,650Idaho $39,580Florida $39,440New Mexico $39,430
Working as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in North Carolina
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 North Carolina pay ($43,400) 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 North Carolina?
The median Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in North Carolina is $43,400 per year, or about $20.87 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $35,180 at the entry level to $62,120 for the top 10% of earners.
How does North Carolina pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina pays Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic about 6% less than the national median of $46,330. North Carolina ranks 40th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is North Carolina a good state for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $43,400 a year. About 3,940 Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are employed in North Carolina. 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 North Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in North Carolina include Surgeon, All Other ($398,410), Dermatologist ($367,350), Emergency Medicine Physician ($339,350), 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.