SOC 51-4031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Wisconsin
Wisconsin · 10 metro areas compared
At $49,270, median pay for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wisconsin tracks the national median of $46,330 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $49,270, median pay for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wisconsin tracks the national median of $46,330 closely. Pay ranges from under $38,290 at the tenth percentile to more than $62,580 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $43,930 to $58,560.
Employment stands at 7,960, or 2.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Wisconsin ranks number 6th out of 49 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Oshkosh records the highest median at $62,250. Of the 728 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 485th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,290 | −17.4% |
| 25th | $43,930 | −5.2% |
| Median (50th) | $49,270 | +6.3% |
| 75th | $58,560 | +26.4% |
| 90th | $62,580 | +35.1% |
| Mean | $50,500 | +9.0% |
Highest-paying 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 Wisconsin run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $49,270 goes as far as $52,359 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,270as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,359US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,270 a year, 6.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,290 to $62,580 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,960 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 49 states for 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 Wisconsin?
The median annual wage is $49,270, or $23.69 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 Wisconsin is 6.3% 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 Wisconsin earns more than $62,580 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,290 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 7,960 jobs in this occupation in Wisconsin. 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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