Production occupations · SOC 51-4031
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earned a median of $45,590 per year in the U.S. in 2024, employment is projected to decline -12.1% from 2024–2034, with about 14,400 openings projected each year. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Median annual pay
$45,590
Near the $49,500 median for all U.S. occupations
Projected growth (2024–2034)
-12.1%
Declining vs the +3.1% projected for all occupations
Annual openings (avg)
14,400
Projected 2024–2034
Employed (2024)
174,700
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
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CampusPin majors that list cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic among their typical careers.
More occupations in this field
Occupations in the same federal BLS group (Production occupations), grouped by the standard occupational classification, not a curated related-occupation mapping.
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Source & methodology
Figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (Employment Projections). Wages are 2024; employment projections cover 2024–2034. Public domain (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Credit BLS.
- U.S. national figures only, wages and outlook vary by state, metro, employer, and experience.
- Median wage is the 2024 BLS estimate; projections are BLS model estimates for 2024–2034, not guarantees.
- Occupational data is national and is NOT an institution-specific or graduate outcome.
- Very high wages are capped by BLS and stored as null rather than a fabricated number.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2026). Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, occupation profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/careers/cutting-punching-and-press-machine-setters-operators-and-tenders-metal-and-plastic
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