Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Portland-South Portland, ME
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics in Portland-South Portland, ME make a median of $50,180 a year, or about $24.13 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $49,264 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,130/month — about 65% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $53K | +17% | 330 |
| Oregon | $52K | +14% | 910 |
| Minnesota | $51K | +12% | 5,570 |
| Maine | $50K | +10% | 240 |
| Washington | $50K | +9% | 2,120 |
| Wisconsin | $49K | +7% | 9,110 |
| Montana | $48K | +6% | 100 |
| Maryland | $48K | +6% | 260 |
| Kentucky | $48K | +6% | 6,610 |
| Iowa | $48K | +5% | 2,320 |
| Nebraska | $48K | +5% | 1,290 |
| Alaska | $48K | +4% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | +4% | 660 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | +4% | 8,020 |
| Missouri | $47K | +4% | 3,640 |
| New Jersey | $47K | +3% | 1,880 |
| California | $47K | +3% | 7,340 |
| Connecticut | $47K | +2% | 1,920 |
| Arizona | $46K | +2% | 1,140 |
| Michigan | $46K | +2% | 21,760 |
| North Dakota | $46K | +1% | 270 |
| Virginia | $46K | +1% | 2,090 |
| Massachusetts | $46K | +0% | 3,350 |
| Illinois | $46K | +0% | 8,350 |
| Nevada | $45K | -0% | 510 |
| Indiana | $45K | -0% | 11,470 |
| New York | $45K | -1% | 3,790 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -1% | 3,200 |
| Utah | $45K | -1% | 1,130 |
| Rhode Island | $45K | -2% | 530 |
| Oklahoma | $44K | -3% | 2,330 |
| Wyoming | $44K | -3% | 50 |
| Tennessee | $44K | -3% | 5,910 |
| South Dakota | $44K | -3% | 590 |
| Ohio | $44K | -4% | 14,770 |
| Vermont | $44K | -4% | 60 |
| Georgia | $44K | -4% | 5,580 |
| Louisiana | $44K | -4% | 740 |
| Kansas | $43K | -6% | 1,550 |
| South Carolina | $42K | -7% | 3,620 |
| North Carolina | $42K | -7% | 3,940 |
| Texas | $42K | -9% | 12,260 |
| New Mexico | $40K | -13% | 180 |
| Mississippi | $40K | -13% | 1,480 |
| Alabama | $39K | -13% | 6,020 |
| Delaware | $39K | -14% | 210 |
| Idaho | $39K | -15% | 620 |
| Florida | $38K | -17% | 2,730 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-South Portland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $50,180 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,260, and experienced cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $64,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,349/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 63.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $49,264 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.