SOC 51-9041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Tennessee
Tennessee · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee is $41,970 per year, 8.3% below the national median of $45,760.
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 Tennessee is $41,970 per year, 8.3% below the national median of $45,760. Pay ranges from under $34,770 at the tenth percentile to more than $56,050 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $36,260 to $47,140.
Employment stands at 4,210, or 1.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 45 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 37th by median wage. Chattanooga leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $46,220. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 561st of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,770 | −24.0% |
| 25th | $36,260 | −20.8% |
| Median (50th) | $41,970 | −8.3% |
| 75th | $47,140 | +3.0% |
| 90th | $56,050 | +22.5% |
| Mean | $43,230 | −5.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga | $46,220 | 160 | |
| 2 | Nashville | $45,760 | 810 | |
| 3 | Knoxville | $45,750 | 220 | |
| 4 | Clarksville | $45,670 | 320 | |
| 5 | Memphis | $45,290 | 150 | |
| 6 | Kingsport | $43,530 | 200 | |
| 7 | Jackson | $42,320 | 100 | |
| 8 | Morristown | $41,810 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $41,970 goes as far as $45,669 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$41,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$45,669US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $41,970 a year, 8.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,770 to $56,050 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 4,210 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 37th of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chattanooga, at $46,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $41,970, or $20.18 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 Tennessee is 8.3% lower. 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 Tennessee earns more than $56,050 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,770 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 Chattanooga, at $46,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 4,210 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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