SOC 51-4193 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Michigan
Michigan · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Michigan is $37,600 a year, trailing the national median of $43,960 by 14.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Michigan is $37,600 a year, trailing the national median of $43,960 by 14.5%. Half of workers earn between $35,100 and $44,990. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $32,400 and the ninetieth at $51,850.
The area has 3,330 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 3.63 — 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, Michigan ranks 35th by median wage. Monroe leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $42,240. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 682nd of 774 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,400 | −26.3% |
| 25th | $35,100 | −20.2% |
| Median (50th) | $37,600 | −14.5% |
| 75th | $44,990 | +2.3% |
| 90th | $51,850 | +17.9% |
| Mean | $40,490 | −7.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monroe | $42,240 | 110 | |
| 2 | Jackson | $41,190 | 80 | |
| 3 | Battle Creek | $39,070 | 90 | |
| 4 | Detroit | $37,820 | 1,620 | |
| 5 | Ann Arbor | $37,450 | 50 | |
| 6 | Grand Rapids | $36,960 | 780 | |
| 7 | Lansing | $36,330 | 100 | |
| 8 | Muskegon | $35,620 | 80 | |
| 9 | Niles | $35,290 | 40 | |
| 10 | Kalamazoo | $35,110 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $37,600 goes as far as $39,085 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$37,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$39,085US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $37,600 a year, 14.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $32,400 to $51,850 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,330 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 35th of 40 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Monroe, at $42,240.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Michigan?
The median annual wage is $37,600, or $18.08 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 Michigan is 14.5% 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 Michigan earns more than $51,850 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $32,400 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 Monroe, at $42,240 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,330 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. 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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