Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in the U.S.
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the U.S. earn a median of $49,080 a year ($23.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,680 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,410 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $51,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| 25th percentile | $41,710 | $20.05 |
| Median | $49,080 | $23.60 |
| 75th percentile | $57,940 | $27.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,410 | $32.89 |
| Average (mean) | $51,810 | $24.91 |
Half of drilling and boring machine tool 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 | $4,090 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,045 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,887.69 |
| Weekly | $943.85 |
| Hourly | $23.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $49,080 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $90,390 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $77,780 | 60 |
| Idaho | $69,590 | 70 |
| Florida | $66,340 | 80 |
| Michigan | $60,410 | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $59,800 | 40 |
| Illinois | $56,720 | 390 |
| New York | $55,310 | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $55,230 | 250 |
| Alabama | $53,110 | 140 |
| South Carolina | $52,040 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $51,740 | n/a |
| Ohio | $51,670 | 200 |
| Colorado | $51,280 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $49,930 | 50 |
| Wisconsin | $49,640 | 60 |
| California | $49,080 | 690 |
| Arizona | $48,140 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $47,870 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $47,010 | 110 |
| North Carolina | $46,970 | 50 |
| Arkansas | $46,730 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,370 | 180 |
| Georgia | $46,270 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $45,070 | 400 |
| West Virginia | $45,060 | n/a |
| Missouri | $44,990 | 80 |
| Texas | $44,350 | 220 |
| Iowa | $43,860 | 110 |
| Connecticut | $41,080 | 50 |
| Indiana | $39,110 | 300 |
Best-paying metro areas for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $79,120 | 60 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $63,320 | 80 |
| Tulsa, OK | $58,210 | 180 |
| Peoria, IL | $56,840 | 70 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $52,260 | 70 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $51,740 | n/a |
| Cleveland, OH | $51,670 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,920 | 130 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50,810 | 80 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $49,080 | 400 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $48,480 | 50 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,140 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,330 | 50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $47,010 | 70 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,460 | 90 |
Metro areas with the most drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 400 | $49,080 |
| Tulsa, OK | 180 | $58,210 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 130 | $50,920 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 110 | $35,660 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 90 | $46,460 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 80 | $63,320 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 80 | $50,810 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 80 | $40,170 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 70 | $52,260 |
| Cleveland, OH | 70 | $51,670 |
| Knoxville, TN | 70 | $41,710 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 70 | $47,010 |
| Peoria, IL | 70 | $56,840 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 60 | $79,120 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 60 | $41,810 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
More: Production Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4032. 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 drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The median salary for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. is $49,080 a year, or $23.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,300 for the lowest-paid 10% to $68,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S. earn at least $68,410 a year. The top 25% earn $57,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,300 a year, and a quarter of drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn $41,710 or less.
How many drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic work in the U.S.?
About 4,680 drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.