SOC 51-4031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Kingsport
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · 9 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Kingsport, TN is $43,920 per year, close to the national median of $46,330 for the same occupation.
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 Kingsport, TN is $43,920 per year, close to the national median of $46,330 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $35,680 at the tenth percentile to more than $47,300 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $39,240 to $47,300.
Employment stands at 280, or 2.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $45,650. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 218th of 347 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,680 | −23.0% |
| 25th | $39,240 | −15.3% |
| Median (50th) | $43,920 | −5.2% |
| 75th | $47,300 | +2.1% |
| 90th | $47,300 | +2.1% |
| Mean | $43,670 | −5.7% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $45,650 | 1,190 | |
| 2 | Clarksville | $45,560 | 310 | |
| 3 | Knoxville | $45,420 | 720 | |
| 4 | Cleveland | $43,720 | 70 | |
| 5 | Jackson | $43,150 | 210 | |
| 6 | Chattanooga | $41,320 | 410 | |
| 7 | Johnson City | $40,110 | 100 | |
| 8 | Memphis | $39,880 | 440 | |
| 9 | Morristown | $39,860 | 290 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kingsport run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $43,920 goes as far as $47,791 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$43,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,791US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $43,920 a year, 5.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,680 to $47,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 280 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $45,650.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Kingsport, TN?
The median annual wage is $43,920, or $21.12 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 Kingsport, TN is 5.2% 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 Kingsport, TN earns more than $47,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,680 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 Nashville, at $45,650 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 280 jobs in this occupation in Kingsport, TN. 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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