SOC 51-4021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Wausau
Wausau, WI · 9 metro areas compared
At $48,660, median pay for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wausau, WI tracks the national median of $47,720 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $48,660, median pay for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wausau, WI tracks the national median of $47,720 closely. Pay ranges from under $39,750 at the tenth percentile to more than $57,570 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $45,550 to $57,000.
Employment stands at 60, or 0.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Oshkosh records the highest median at $64,760. Of the 268 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 161st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,750 | −16.7% |
| 25th | $45,550 | −4.5% |
| Median (50th) | $48,660 | +2.0% |
| 75th | $57,000 | +19.4% |
| 90th | $57,570 | +20.6% |
| Mean | $49,410 | +3.5% |
Other metro areas in Wisconsin
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh | $64,760 | 450 | |
| 2 | Appleton | $61,960 | 250 | |
| 3 | Janesville | $51,200 | 210 | |
| 4 | Green Bay | $49,660 | 30 | |
| 5 | Sheboygan | $48,080 | 100 | |
| 6 | Eau Claire | $47,850 | 90 | |
| 7 | Milwaukee | $46,520 | 420 | |
| 8 | Madison | $46,150 | 140 | |
| 9 | Kenosha | $39,050 | 160 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Wausau run 5.9% below the national average, so the median of $48,660 goes as far as $51,711 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 8.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,660as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,711US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,660 a year, 2.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,750 to $57,570 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Oshkosh, at $64,760.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Wausau, WI?
The median annual wage is $48,660, or $23.39 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 Wausau, WI is 2.0% 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 $57,570 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,750 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 $64,760 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 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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