Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA make a median of $48,640 a year, or about $23.39 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.06), which stretches that salary to about $55,870 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,051/month — about 31.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Waterloo-Cedar Falls’s Regional Price Parity (87.06). 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.
About cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA
Entry-level cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $16K 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA?
The median is $48,640 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,650, and experienced cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $57,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,231/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,051/month, which eats 32.5% 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls has a Regional Price Parity of 87.06 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $55,870 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.