Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX make a median of $49,920 a year, or about $24 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.63), that's roughly $50,613 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,573/month — about 43.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands’s Regional Price Parity (98.63). 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 lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Entry-level lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $62K | +28% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $59K | +22% | 420 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +21% | 760 |
| Washington | $58K | +19% | 40 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +19% | 150 |
| Nebraska | $58K | +19% | 150 |
| Utah | $58K | +18% | 50 |
| New Jersey | $56K | +15% | 230 |
| Maryland | $56K | +15% | 60 |
| Illinois | $56K | +14% | 1,430 |
| Arizona | $53K | +8% | 260 |
| Indiana | $52K | +7% | 1,250 |
| West Virginia | $52K | +7% | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $52K | +6% | 410 |
| Vermont | $51K | +5% | 50 |
| North Carolina | $51K | +4% | 460 |
| New Hampshire | $50K | +3% | 140 |
| New York | $50K | +2% | 790 |
| Louisiana | $49K | +1% | 100 |
| Iowa | $49K | +0% | 220 |
| Ohio | $48K | -2% | 1,500 |
| Connecticut | $48K | -2% | 800 |
| California | $48K | -2% | 2,330 |
| Missouri | $48K | -2% | 230 |
| Texas | $47K | -2% | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $47K | -3% | 60 |
| Florida | $46K | -4% | 360 |
| Michigan | $46K | -4% | 1,750 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -5% | 1,060 |
| Georgia | $46K | -6% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $45K | -7% | 180 |
| Kansas | $44K | -9% | 220 |
| Nevada | $43K | -11% | 40 |
| Kentucky | $43K | -11% | 200 |
| Rhode Island | $40K | -17% | 40 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -20% | 200 |
| Arkansas | $38K | -22% | 220 |
| Virginia | $38K | -22% | 220 |
| Mississippi | $31K | -35% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track lathe and turning machine tool 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 lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median is $49,920 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,360, and experienced lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $57,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,512/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,573/month, which eats 44.8% 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 lathe and turning machine tool 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 lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $50,613 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lathe and turning machine tool 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.