SOC 51-9041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Arkansas
Arkansas · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Arkansas is $48,320 per year, close to the national median of $45,760 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Arkansas is $48,320 per year, close to the national median of $45,760 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $38,220 at the tenth percentile to more than $48,320 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,600 to $48,320.
The area has 2,190 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.7 of every thousand jobs. Among the 45 states with published data for this occupation, Arkansas ranks 14th by median wage. Fort Smith leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $38,650. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 337th of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,220 | −16.5% |
| 25th | $44,600 | −2.5% |
| Median (50th) | $48,320 | +5.6% |
| 75th | $48,320 | +5.6% |
| 90th | $48,320 | +5.6% |
| Mean | $46,990 | +2.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Smith | $38,650 | 30 | |
| 2 | Little Rock | $37,210 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $48,320 goes as far as $55,604 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 21.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$48,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,604US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $48,320 a year, 5.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,220 to $48,320 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,190 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 14th of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fort Smith, at $38,650.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $48,320, or $23.23 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 $45,760, so pay in Arkansas is 5.6% 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 Arkansas earns more than $48,320 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,220 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 Fort Smith, at $38,650 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,190 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. 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.
Explore related data