SOC 51-4021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — West Tennessee
West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in West Tennessee, TN is $50,000 per year, close to the national median of $47,720 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in West Tennessee, TN is $50,000 per year, close to the national median of $47,720 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $34,990 at the tenth percentile to more than $50,160 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,670 to $50,000.
The area has 220 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.9 of every thousand jobs. Knoxville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $51,170. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 149th of 324 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,990 | −26.7% |
| 25th | $36,670 | −23.2% |
| Median (50th) | $50,000 | +4.8% |
| 75th | $50,000 | +4.8% |
| 90th | $50,160 | +5.1% |
| Mean | $46,240 | −3.1% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knoxville | $51,170 | 740 | |
| 2 | Jackson | $48,250 | 150 | |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $48,160 | 330 | |
| 4 | Morristown | $47,240 | 100 | |
| 5 | Nashville | $46,420 | 560 | |
| 6 | Memphis | $45,950 | 140 | |
| 7 | Clarksville | $45,180 | 120 | |
| 8 | Johnson City | $42,140 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in West Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $50,000 goes as far as $54,407 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$54,407US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,000 a year, 4.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,990 to $50,160 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 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 West Tennessee, TN?
The median annual wage is $50,000, or $24.04 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 West Tennessee, TN is 4.8% 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 West Tennessee, TN earns more than $50,160 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,990 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 220 jobs in this occupation in West Tennessee, 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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