SOC 51-4031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Athens
Athens-Clarke County, GA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Athens, GA is $40,840 per year, 11.8% below the national median of $46,330.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Athens, GA is $40,840 per year, 11.8% below the national median of $46,330. Pay ranges from under $31,810 at the tenth percentile to more than $47,180 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,150 to $46,430.
Employment stands at 50, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. Rome leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,740. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 216th of 303 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,810 | −31.3% |
| 25th | $36,150 | −22.0% |
| Median (50th) | $40,840 | −11.8% |
| 75th | $46,430 | +0.2% |
| 90th | $47,180 | +1.8% |
| Mean | $41,220 | −11.0% |
Other metro areas in Georgia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rome | $63,740 | 200 | |
| 2 | Gainesville | $47,470 | 190 | |
| 3 | Atlanta | $46,310 | 2,840 | |
| 4 | Dalton | $40,730 | 110 | |
| 5 | Augusta | $40,610 | 110 | |
| 6 | Macon | $39,370 | 100 | |
| 7 | Savannah | $38,840 | 100 | |
| 8 | Columbus | $35,390 | 50 | |
| 9 | Valdosta | $33,820 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Athens run 3.7% below the national average, so the median of $40,840 goes as far as $42,409 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$40,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$42,409US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $40,840 a year, 11.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,810 to $47,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Rome, at $63,740.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Athens, GA?
The median annual wage is $40,840, or $19.64 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 $46,330, so pay in Athens, GA is 11.8% 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 Athens, GA earns more than $47,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,810 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 Rome, at $63,740 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Athens, GA. 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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