Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

SOC code 51-4031 · O*NET-SOC 51-4031.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$46,330

a year

Hourly

$22.27

per hour

10th$35,760Median$46,33090th$65,510

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$48,430

$23.28 per hour

Middle 50%

$38,870 – $55,410

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$35,760 – $65,510

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

171,200

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

10th percentile: $35,760; $17.19/hr
25th percentile: $38,870; $18.69/hr
Median percentile: $46,330; $22.27/hr
75th percentile: $55,410; $26.64/hr
90th percentile: $65,510; $31.50/hr

What do cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

The tasks that matter most day to day

Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.
Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws.
Lubricate workpieces with oil.
Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances.
Install, align, and lock specified punches, dies, cutting blades, or other fixtures in rams or beds of machines, using gauges, templates, feelers, shims, and hand tools.
Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data.
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Adjust ram strokes of presses to specified lengths, using hand tools.

How to qualify for this work

Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 63% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed

Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

See all zone 2 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)63%
Post-Secondary Certificate35%
Less than a High School Diploma1%
Some College Courses1%

Common questions

How much does a cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn?

The national median is $46,330 a year. The full range runs from $35,760 at the 10th percentile to $65,510 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic without a degree?

Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Active Listening3.0/5
Speaking3.0/5
Critical Thinking3.0/5
Monitoring3.0/5
Reading Comprehension2.8/5

Knowledge areas

Production and Processing3.3/5
Mechanical3.0/5
English Language3.0/5

Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Troubleshooting, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making.