SOC 51-4021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN-GA · 7 metro areas compared
At $48,160, median pay for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chattanooga, TN tracks the national median of $47,720 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $48,160, median pay for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chattanooga, TN tracks the national median of $47,720 closely. Pay ranges from under $37,780 at the tenth percentile to more than $60,710 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $41,350 to $59,960.
Employment stands at 330, or 1.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Knoxville records the highest median at $51,170. Of the 466 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 258th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,780 | −20.8% |
| 25th | $41,350 | −13.3% |
| Median (50th) | $48,160 | +0.9% |
| 75th | $59,960 | +25.6% |
| 90th | $60,710 | +27.2% |
| Mean | $49,660 | +4.1% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knoxville | $51,170 | 740 | |
| 2 | Jackson | $48,250 | 150 | |
| 3 | Morristown | $47,240 | 100 | |
| 4 | Nashville | $46,420 | 560 | |
| 5 | Memphis | $45,950 | 140 | |
| 6 | Clarksville | $45,180 | 120 | |
| 7 | Johnson City | $42,140 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chattanooga run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $48,160 goes as far as $52,405 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,405US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,160 a year, 0.9% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,780 to $60,710 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 330 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Knoxville, at $51,170.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chattanooga, TN?
The median annual wage is $48,160, or $23.15 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 $47,720, so pay in Chattanooga, TN is 0.9% 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 Chattanooga, TN earns more than $60,710 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,780 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 Knoxville, at $51,170 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 330 jobs in this occupation in Chattanooga, 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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