Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX make a median of $53,350 a year, or about $25.65 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.63), that's roughly $54,091 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,573/month — about 42.4% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $53K get you in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
About forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Entry-level forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K.Top earners bring in $69K or more - a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Forging 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $64K | +29% | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +23% | 250 |
| Kentucky | $60K | +21% | 860 |
| Nebraska | $59K | +19% | 190 |
| California | $58K | +17% | 480 |
| Oklahoma | $56K | +14% | N/A |
| New York | $53K | +8% | 160 |
| Virginia | $53K | +8% | 310 |
| Oregon | $52K | +6% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $52K | +5% | 80 |
| Arkansas | $52K | +5% | 180 |
| Michigan | $51K | +3% | 780 |
| Kansas | $51K | +3% | 130 |
| Ohio | $50K | +2% | 680 |
| Nevada | $50K | +1% | 40 |
Track forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median is $53,350 a year - that works out to about $25.65 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,080, and experienced forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $69,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,742/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,573/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 42% 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 forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands has a Regional Price Parity of 98.63 (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 forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $54,091 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do forging 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.