SOC 51-4034 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — South Carolina
South Carolina · 2 metro areas compared
At $49,490, median pay for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in South Carolina tracks the national median of $50,620 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $49,490, median pay for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in South Carolina tracks the national median of $50,620 closely. Pay ranges from under $39,090 at the tenth percentile to more than $68,260 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $44,820 to $61,960.
Employment stands at 370, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. South Carolina ranks number 20th out of 36 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Spartanburg records the highest median at $61,940. Of the 713 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 411th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,090 | −22.8% |
| 25th | $44,820 | −11.5% |
| Median (50th) | $49,490 | −2.2% |
| 75th | $61,960 | +22.4% |
| 90th | $68,260 | +34.8% |
| Mean | $53,470 | +5.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartanburg | $61,940 | 90 | |
| 2 | Columbia | $45,040 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $49,490 goes as far as $52,818 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,490as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,818US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,490 a year, 2.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,090 to $68,260 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 370 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 20th of 36 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Spartanburg, at $61,940.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $49,490, or $23.79 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 $50,620, so pay in South Carolina is 2.2% 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 South Carolina earns more than $68,260 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,090 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 Spartanburg, at $61,940 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 370 jobs in this occupation in South Carolina. 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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