SOC 51-4031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Lafayette
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Lafayette, IN is $52,710 per year, 13.8% above 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 Lafayette, IN is $52,710 per year, 13.8% above the national median of $46,330. Pay ranges from under $40,250 at the tenth percentile to more than $73,840 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $49,240 to $63,830.
The area has 260 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.5 of every thousand jobs. Columbus leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,880. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 168th of 308 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,250 | −13.1% |
| 25th | $49,240 | +6.3% |
| Median (50th) | $52,710 | +13.8% |
| 75th | $63,830 | +37.8% |
| 90th | $73,840 | +59.4% |
| Mean | $53,950 | +16.4% |
Other metro areas in Indiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus | $47,880 | 260 | |
| 2 | Evansville | $47,790 | 190 | |
| 3 | Indianapolis | $46,740 | 1,550 | |
| 4 | South Bend | $46,270 | 380 | |
| 5 | Muncie | $46,010 | 140 | |
| 6 | Elkhart | $45,620 | 790 | |
| 7 | Michigan City | $44,410 | 90 | |
| 8 | Bloomington | $44,130 | 70 | |
| 9 | Kokomo | $44,080 | 30 | |
| 10 | Fort Wayne | $42,960 | 770 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Lafayette run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $52,710 goes as far as $56,495 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 21.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$52,710as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$56,495US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $52,710 a year, 13.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,250 to $73,840 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 260 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Columbus, at $47,880.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Lafayette, IN?
The median annual wage is $52,710, or $25.34 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 Lafayette, IN is 13.8% higher. 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 Lafayette, IN earns more than $73,840 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,250 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 Columbus, at $47,880 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 260 jobs in this occupation in Lafayette, 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.
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