occupation · 51-4000 · minor
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers — wages and employment
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers earned a median annual wage of $48,660 in the United States in May 2024, with 1,599,780 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
What stands out
Metal Workers and Plastic Workers earned a median annual wage of $48,660 in the United States in May 2024, with 1,599,780 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The lowest-paid tenth earned $35,940 or less, the best-paid tenth $73,550 or more. Since May 2023 the median moved from $46,860 to $48,660, +3.8 %. Wages are as published by BLS for May of each year; '≥ $239,200' is BLS's top code. Every value links to its fact record.
United States, year by year
Annual wages at the median, mean and four percentiles; employment is the May estimate.
| Reference | Employment | Median | Mean | 10th | 25th | 75th | 90th | Median hourly | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | 1,599,780 | $48,660 | $52,050 | $35,940 | $40,360 | $60,310 | $73,550 | $23.39 | evidence → |
| May 2023 | 1,605,180 | $46,860 | $49,350 | $34,160 | $38,340 | $57,750 | $68,390 | $22.53 | evidence → |
Occupations in this group
24 detailed occupations, largest first.
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 51-4121 · median $51,000 · 424,040 jobs
- Machinists 51-4041 · median $56,150 · 298,790 jobs
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4031 · median $45,590 · 174,430 jobs
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4072 · median $41,230 · 154,820 jobs
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4081 · median $46,060 · 129,850 jobs
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4033 · median $45,190 · 70,110 jobs
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4021 · median $46,980 · 65,700 jobs
- Tool and Die Makers 51-4111 · median $63,180 · 55,130 jobs
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 51-4122 · median $47,060 · 36,290 jobs
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4193 · median $41,600 · 31,510 jobs
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4023 · median $48,630 · 22,350 jobs
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders 51-4051 · median $55,770 · 20,330 jobs
- Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other 51-4199 · median $42,750 · 20,270 jobs
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4034 · median $48,620 · 18,970 jobs
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4191 · median $47,450 · 14,590 jobs
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4035 · median $48,310 · 13,810 jobs
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers 51-4071 · median $45,700 · 12,720 jobs
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4022 · median $49,240 · 8,760 jobs
- Pourers and Casters, Metal 51-4052 · median $48,940 · 5,830 jobs
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners 51-4194 · median $48,970 · 5,730 jobs
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic 51-4192 · median $61,870 · 5,610 jobs
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 51-4032 · median $46,630 · 5,310 jobs
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic 51-4061 · median $62,700 · 3,230 jobs
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic 51-4062 · median $54,540 · 1,570 jobs
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