SalaryExplorer

SOC 51-9032 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersFort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN · 6 metro areas compared

$46,420 /year
$22.32per hour
130jobs in area
0.3%vs US median

The median wage here is $46,420 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $46,570.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $46,57010TH$37,17025TH$40,680MEDIAN$46,42075TH$49,04090TH$57,090

Salary overview

The median wage here is $46,420 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $46,570. Half of workers earn between $40,680 and $49,040. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $37,170 and the ninetieth at $57,090.

The area has 130 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.6 of every thousand jobs. Terre Haute leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $53,180. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 298th of 442 by median pay.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · Fort Wayne, IN · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$37,170−20.2%
25th$40,680−12.6%
Median (50th)$46,420−0.3%
75th$49,040+5.3%
90th$57,090+22.6%
Mean$47,110+1.2%

Other metro areas in Indiana

Median annual wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Terre Haute$53,18090
2South Bend$47,17060
3Indianapolis$47,030380
4Evansville$45,98050
5Elkhart$45,860350
6Bloomington$43,22050

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in Fort Wayne run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $46,420 goes as far as $49,753 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.8% above the national median in real terms.

Published median

$46,420as reported by BLS

Local price level

93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$49,753US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $46,420 a year, 0.3% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $37,170 to $57,090 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Terre Haute, at $53,180.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fort Wayne, IN?

The median annual wage is $46,420, or $22.32 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 Wayne, IN is 0.3% 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 Wayne, IN earns more than $57,090 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $37,170 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 Terre Haute, at $53,180 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 130 jobs in this occupation in Fort Wayne, IN. 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.

Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Fort Wayne, IN (2025): $46,420 Median | Salary Explorer