SOC 51-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR-OK · 3 metro areas compared
At $44,960, median pay for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fort Smith, AR tracks the national median of $46,570 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $44,960, median pay for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fort Smith, AR tracks the national median of $46,570 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $40,880 and $64,160. The lowest tenth earn under $38,280, while the highest tenth earn more than $64,920.
The area has 240 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 8.83 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Jonesboro leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $50,150. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 159th of 302 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,280 | −17.8% |
| 25th | $40,880 | −12.2% |
| Median (50th) | $44,960 | −3.5% |
| 75th | $64,160 | +37.8% |
| 90th | $64,920 | +39.4% |
| Mean | $49,280 | +5.8% |
Other metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonesboro | $50,150 | 40 | |
| 2 | Little Rock | $48,320 | 140 | |
| 3 | Fayetteville | $47,110 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fort Smith run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $44,960 goes as far as $51,738 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,960as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,738US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,960 a year, 3.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,280 to $64,920 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 240 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Jonesboro, at $50,150.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fort Smith, AR?
The median annual wage is $44,960, or $21.61 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $46,570, so pay in Fort Smith, AR is 3.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Fort Smith, AR earns more than $64,920 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,280 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Jonesboro, at $50,150 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 240 jobs in this occupation in Fort Smith, AR. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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