SOC 51-4031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Brownsville
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Brownsville, TX is $36,610 a year, trailing the national median of $46,330 by 21.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Brownsville, TX is $36,610 a year, trailing the national median of $46,330 by 21.0%. Half of workers earn between $30,670 and $41,230. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $28,220 and the ninetieth at $45,460.
The area has 100 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.56 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Amarillo leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,690. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 216th of 311 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,220 | −39.1% |
| 25th | $30,670 | −33.8% |
| Median (50th) | $36,610 | −21.0% |
| 75th | $41,230 | −11.0% |
| 90th | $45,460 | −1.9% |
| Mean | $36,280 | −21.7% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amarillo | $49,690 | 160 | |
| 2 | Midland | $45,600 | 50 | |
| 3 | Austin | $45,470 | 430 | |
| 4 | Odessa | $44,820 | 60 | |
| 5 | Texarkana | $44,610 | 130 | |
| 6 | Dallas | $43,950 | 4,440 | |
| 7 | Houston | $43,420 | 3,810 | |
| 8 | Sherman | $41,740 | 60 | |
| 9 | San Antonio | $41,530 | 780 | |
| 10 | Wichita Falls | $40,260 | 120 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Brownsville run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $36,610 goes as far as $37,703 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,610as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$37,703US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,610 a year, 21.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,220 to $45,460 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Amarillo, at $49,690.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Brownsville, TX?
The median annual wage is $36,610, or $17.60 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 Brownsville, TX is 21.0% 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 Brownsville, TX earns more than $45,460 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,220 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 Amarillo, at $49,690 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 jobs in this occupation in Brownsville, TX. 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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