Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Virginia$72,620
- Massachusetts$70,100
- Idaho$66,920
- Florida$59,950
- New Hampshire$58,690
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Indiana$43,010
- Texas$44,130
- Arkansas$45,300
- West Virginia$45,370
- Arizona$45,560
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $72,620 | $90,390 | $35 | +40.2% | 100 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $70,100 | $77,780 | $34 | +35.3% | 60 |
| 3 | Idaho | $66,920 | $69,590 | $32 | +29.2% | 70 |
| 4 | Florida | $59,950 | $66,340 | $29 | +15.7% | 80 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $58,690 | $59,800 | $28 | +13.3% | 40 |
| 6 | Missouri | $56,180 | $44,990 | $27 | +8.4% | 80 |
| 7 | Michigan | $55,030 | $60,410 | $26 | +6.2% | 190 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $54,740 | $49,640 | $26 | +5.7% | 60 |
| 9 | New York | $54,690 | $55,310 | $26 | +5.6% | 70 |
| 10 | South Carolina | $53,190 | $52,040 | $26 | +2.7% | 70 |
| 11 | Ohio | $52,570 | $51,670 | $25 | +1.5% | 200 |
| 12 | California | $52,460 | $49,080 | $25 | +1.3% | 690 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $51,520 | $55,230 | $25 | -0.6% | 250 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $51,410 | $46,970 | $25 | -0.8% | 50 |
| 15 | Illinois | $51,120 | $56,720 | $25 | -1.3% | 390 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $50,780 | $51,740 | $24 | -2% | — |
| 17 | New Jersey | $50,200 | $47,870 | $24 | -3.1% | 70 |
| 18 | Colorado | $49,950 | $51,280 | $24 | -3.6% | 40 |
| 19 | Alabama | $49,890 | $53,110 | $24 | -3.7% | 140 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $49,850 | $46,370 | $24 | -3.8% | 180 |
| 21 | Mississippi | $48,560 | $49,930 | $23 | -6.3% | 50 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $48,460 | $47,010 | $23 | -6.5% | 110 |
| 23 | Iowa | $48,090 | $43,860 | $23 | -7.2% | 110 |
| 24 | Georgia | $48,010 | $46,270 | $23 | -7.3% | 80 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $48,000 | $41,080 | $23 | -7.4% | 50 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $46,090 | $45,070 | $22 | -11% | 400 |
| 27 | Arizona | $45,560 | $48,140 | $22 | -12.1% | 70 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $45,370 | $45,060 | $22 | -12.4% | — |
| 29 | Arkansas | $45,300 | $46,730 | $22 | -12.6% | 60 |
| 30 | Texas | $44,130 | $44,350 | $21 | -14.8% | 220 |
| 31 | Indiana | $43,010 | $39,110 | $21 | -17% | 300 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 24 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $79,120 | $73,300 | 60 |
| 2 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $63,320 | $56,670 | 80 |
| 3 | Tulsa, OK | $58,210 | $52,590 | 180 |
| 4 | Peoria, IL | $56,840 | $57,120 | 70 |
| 5 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $52,260 | $50,630 | 70 |
| 6 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $51,740 | $51,620 | — |
| 7 | Cleveland, OH | $51,670 | $54,590 | 70 |
| 8 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $50,920 | $57,710 | 130 |
| 9 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $50,810 | $51,370 | 80 |
| 10 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $49,080 | $52,480 | 400 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $75,870 | $80,030 | 100 |
| 2 | Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction | $75,870 | $79,790 | 40 |
| 3 | Sector 23 - Construction | $75,870 | $78,400 | 110 |
| 4 | Utility System Construction | $71,870 | $75,900 | 70 |
| 5 | Testing Laboratories and Services | $64,870 | $63,640 | 40 |
| 6 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $64,830 | $66,000 | — |
| 7 | Sector 42 - Wholesale Trade | $64,830 | $63,750 | — |
| 8 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $64,630 | $69,090 | 210 |
| 9 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $57,000 | $59,290 | 490 |
| 10 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | $56,720 | $56,610 | 300 |
| 11 | Machinery Manufacturing | $52,290 | $52,700 | 940 |
| 12 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | $51,870 | $57,700 | 260 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The median drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in the United States is $49,080 per year (mean $51,810), and about 80% earn between $36,300 and $68,410.
How much do drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make per hour?
Roughly $25 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $51,810 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?
Virginia has the highest average pay for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at $72,620 per year (median $90,390).
What is the job outlook for drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Employment is projected to change -19.6% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 400 openings per year.