SOC 51-4031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Wausau
Wausau, WI · 10 metro areas compared
At $46,470, median pay for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wausau, WI tracks the national median of $46,330 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $46,470, median pay for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wausau, WI tracks the national median of $46,330 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $43,850 and $52,020. The lowest tenth earn under $39,190, while the highest tenth earn more than $58,560.
The area has 350 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 4.56 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Oshkosh leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,250. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 185th of 268 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,190 | −15.4% |
| 25th | $43,850 | −5.4% |
| Median (50th) | $46,470 | +0.3% |
| 75th | $52,020 | +12.3% |
| 90th | $58,560 | +26.4% |
| Mean | $47,920 | +3.4% |
Other metro areas in Wisconsin
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh | $62,250 | 560 | |
| 2 | Appleton | $53,560 | 610 | |
| 3 | Sheboygan | $52,850 | 330 | |
| 4 | Fond du Lac | $51,780 | 250 | |
| 5 | Kenosha | $51,130 | 180 | |
| 6 | Green Bay | $50,820 | 270 | |
| 7 | Racine | $48,920 | 210 | |
| 8 | Milwaukee | $48,650 | 2,010 | |
| 9 | Janesville | $47,630 | 160 | |
| 10 | Eau Claire | $46,590 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wausau run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $46,470 goes as far as $49,384 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,470as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,384US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,470 a year, 0.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,190 to $58,560 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 350 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Oshkosh, at $62,250.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wausau, WI?
The median annual wage is $46,470, or $22.34 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 Wausau, WI is 0.3% 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 Wausau, WI earns more than $58,560 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,190 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 Oshkosh, at $62,250 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 350 jobs in this occupation in Wausau, WI. 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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