SOC 51-4199 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other — Midland
Midland, TX · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Midland, TX is $39,450 a year, trailing the national median of $45,950 by 14.1%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -9.5%
- Openings per year
- 1,700
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Midland, TX.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Midland, TX is $39,450 a year, trailing the national median of $45,950 by 14.1%. Half of workers earn between $39,450 and $39,450. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $39,440 and the ninetieth at $45,100.
Corpus Christi leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $62,520. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 235th of 297 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,440 | −14.2% |
| 25th | $39,450 | −14.1% |
| Median (50th) | $39,450 | −14.1% |
| 75th | $39,450 | −14.1% |
| 90th | $45,100 | −1.8% |
| Mean | $40,260 | −12.4% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corpus Christi | $62,520 | 50 | |
| 2 | Dallas | $48,890 | 370 | |
| 3 | San Antonio | $45,830 | 80 | |
| 4 | El Paso | $40,910 | 50 | |
| 5 | Houston | $38,270 | 330 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Midland run 4.2% below the national average, so the median of $39,450 goes as far as $41,180 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$39,450as reported by BLSLocal price level
95.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$41,180US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $39,450 a year, 14.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,440 to $45,100 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Corpus Christi, at $62,520.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other in Midland, TX?
The median annual wage is $39,450, or $18.96 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 $45,950, so pay in Midland, TX is 14.1% 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 Midland, TX earns more than $45,100 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,440 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 Corpus Christi, at $62,520 per year.
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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