SOC 51-4072 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Kingsport
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · 8 metro areas compared
In Kingsport, TN the median wage is $36,670.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Kingsport, TN the median wage is $36,670. That is 17.3% lower than the national median of $44,350. Pay ranges from under $30,880 at the tenth percentile to more than $55,350 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $33,840 to $43,890.
Employment stands at 180, or 1.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Chattanooga records the highest median at $47,320. Of the 347 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 279th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,880 | −30.4% |
| 25th | $33,840 | −23.7% |
| Median (50th) | $36,670 | −17.3% |
| 75th | $43,890 | −1.0% |
| 90th | $55,350 | +24.8% |
| Mean | $39,240 | −11.5% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga | $47,320 | 120 | |
| 2 | Cleveland | $44,510 | 60 | |
| 3 | Morristown | $40,090 | 120 | |
| 4 | Knoxville | $39,400 | 590 | |
| 5 | Memphis | $39,340 | 180 | |
| 6 | Johnson City | $38,820 | 240 | |
| 7 | Nashville | $37,970 | 500 | |
| 8 | Jackson | $37,400 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kingsport run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $36,670 goes as far as $39,902 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 10.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$36,670as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,902US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $36,670 a year, 17.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,880 to $55,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 180 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chattanooga, at $47,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Kingsport, TN?
The median annual wage is $36,670, or $17.63 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 $44,350, so pay in Kingsport, TN is 17.3% 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 Kingsport, TN earns more than $55,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,880 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 $47,320 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 180 jobs in this occupation in Kingsport, 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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