Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Appleton, WI
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the Appleton, WI metro area earn a median of $53,560 a year ($25.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,530 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $46,330. Pay here is 9% higher than the Wisconsin statewide median of $49,270. There are 4.9 cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $53,290, close to the median.
Pay range for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Appleton, WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,410 | $21.83 |
| 25th percentile | $48,910 | $23.51 |
| Median | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| 75th percentile | $57,710 | $27.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,530 | $30.54 |
| Average (mean) | $53,290 | $25.62 |
Half of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,463.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,231.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,060 |
| Weekly | $1,030 |
| Hourly | $25.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $53,560 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $62,250 | 560 |
| Sheboygan, WI | $52,850 | 330 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | $51,780 | 250 |
| Kenosha, WI | $51,130 | 180 |
| Green Bay, WI | $50,820 | 270 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $48,920 | 210 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $48,710 | 4,490 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $48,650 | 2,010 |
| Janesville-Beloit, WI | $47,630 | 160 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $47,410 | 110 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $46,590 | 200 |
| Wausau, WI | $46,470 | 350 |
| Madison, WI | $45,980 | 510 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $38,290 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $53,680 |
| Maine | $51,820 |
| Washington | $51,160 |
| Colorado | $50,790 |
| Minnesota | $49,770 |
| Wisconsin | $49,270 |
| Alaska | $49,010 |
| Illinois | $48,990 |
| Nebraska | $48,690 |
| Montana | $48,490 |
See Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in Appleton, WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $58,920 | $28.33 |
| Machinist | $60,350 | $29.02 |
| Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $61,960 | $29.79 |
| Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,990 | $24.03 |
| Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| Tool and Die Makers | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $42,340 | $20.36 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Food Batchmaker | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $77,240 | $37.14 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,930 | $24.01 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,660 | $21.95 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $59,550 | $28.63 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in Appleton, WI?
The median salary for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the Appleton, WI metro area is $53,560 a year, or $25.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $45,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in Appleton, WI?
The top 10% of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the Appleton, WI metro area earn at least $63,530 a year. The top 25% earn $57,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Appleton, WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,410 a year, and a quarter of cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $48,910 or less.
How many cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in Appleton, WI?
About 610 cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the Appleton, WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.