SOC 51-4081 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Louisiana
Louisiana · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $46,210 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $47,180.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $46,210 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $47,180. Half of workers earn between $37,810 and $54,870. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $34,670 and the ninetieth at $61,370.
The area has 900 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.58 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 45 states with published data for this occupation, Louisiana ranks 25th by median wage. Lafayette leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $51,830. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 443rd of 679 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,670 | −26.5% |
| 25th | $37,810 | −19.9% |
| Median (50th) | $46,210 | −2.1% |
| 75th | $54,870 | +16.3% |
| 90th | $61,370 | +30.1% |
| Mean | $46,860 | −0.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | $51,830 | 190 | |
| 2 | New Orleans | $49,360 | 50 | |
| 3 | Baton Rouge | $47,780 | 250 | |
| 4 | Monroe | $47,210 | 90 | |
| 5 | Shreveport | $36,910 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $46,210 goes as far as $52,392 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,392US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,210 a year, 2.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $34,670 to $61,370 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 900 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 25th of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lafayette, at $51,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Louisiana?
The median annual wage is $46,210, or $22.22 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 $47,180, so pay in Louisiana is 2.1% 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 Louisiana earns more than $61,370 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $34,670 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 Lafayette, at $51,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 900 jobs in this occupation in Louisiana. 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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