SOC 51-4193 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Colorado
Colorado · 1 metro areas compared
In Colorado the median wage for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $47,930 a year, which is 9.0% higher than the national figure of $43,960.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Colorado the median wage for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $47,930 a year, which is 9.0% higher than the national figure of $43,960. Half of workers earn between $45,490 and $57,630. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $37,710 and the ninetieth at $61,620.
The area has 190 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.31 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 40 states with published data for this occupation, Colorado ranks 8th by median wage. Denver leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,930. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 569th of 738 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,710 | −14.2% |
| 25th | $45,490 | +3.5% |
| Median (50th) | $47,930 | +9.0% |
| 75th | $57,630 | +31.1% |
| 90th | $61,620 | +40.2% |
| Mean | $49,750 | +13.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver | $47,930 | 130 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Colorado run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $47,930 buys what $46,489 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 5.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$46,489US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,930 a year, 9.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,710 to $61,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 190 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 40 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Denver, at $47,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Colorado?
The median annual wage is $47,930, or $23.04 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 $43,960, so pay in Colorado is 9.0% higher. 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 Colorado earns more than $61,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,710 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 Denver, at $47,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 190 jobs in this occupation in Colorado. 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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