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Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in California
Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in California?
Last updated: 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
$48,450
Median Annual Salary
▲
+2.9% vs 2024
$51,620
Mean Salary
$48,450
Median Salary
$23.29
Hourly Rate
7,710 people work as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by percentile in California
BLS-reported salary distribution — from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th percentile).
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California earn a median salary of $48,450 per year ($4,037/month).
This is 4.9% above the national average of $46,170.
California ranks #11 out of 49 states for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay.
Approximately 7,710 people work in this occupation across California.
Salaries increased by 2.9% compared to 2024.
About This Job: Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Top Skills
Operations Monitoring
3.5
Operation and Control
3.38
Monitoring
3.25
Quality Control Analysis
3.25
Active Listening
3.0
Key Knowledge Areas
Mechanical
3.51
Production and Processing
3.19
Mathematics
3.01
English Language
2.81
Design
2.5
Typical Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent
(67.4% of workers)
Salary Range: Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California
Salaries for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California range from $37,090 at the 10th percentile (entry level) to $68,500 at the 90th percentile (experienced). The middle 50% earn between $43,710 and $58,450.
Median $48,450
P10: $37,090P25: $43,710P75: $58,450P90: $68,500
10th
$37,090
25th
$43,710
Median
$48,450
75th
$58,450
90th
$68,500
Percentile
Annual Salary
Hourly Rate
Monthly
10th Percentile (Entry Level)
$37,090
$17.83
$3,090
25th Percentile
$43,710
$21.01
$3,642
Median (50th)
$48,450
$23.29
$4,037
75th Percentile
$58,450
$28.10
$4,870
90th Percentile (Experienced)
$68,500
$32.93
$5,708
Note: The mean (average) salary of $51,620 differs from the median because salary distributions are typically skewed by high earners.
📊 How Does This Compare?
#11
California ranks #11 of 49 states
$46,170
National avg. for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
How much do Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make in California?
The median annual salary for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California is $48,450 as of 2025. The average (mean) salary is $51,620.
What is the salary range for a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California?
Salaries for Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California range from $37,090 at the 10th percentile to $68,500 at the 90th percentile. The middle 50% earn between $43,710 and $58,450.
What is the starting salary for a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California?
Entry-level Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic positions in California typically start around $37,090 (10th percentile). With some experience, salaries rise to $43,710 (25th percentile).
How many people work as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California?
According to 2025 BLS data, approximately 7,710 people are employed as Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California.
What is the hourly rate for a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California?
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, the median hourly rate for a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in California is approximately $23.29 per hour.
Salary data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, 2025 estimates. The OEWS survey covers approximately 1.1 million establishments nationwide.
Annual salaries are calculated based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, education, employer, and local market conditions. Figures do not include benefits, bonuses, or overtime pay.
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