Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Columbus, IN
The median pay for a plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Columbus, IN is $37,080/year ($17.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $40K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93), which stretches that salary to about $39,871 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month — about 54.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $37K get you in Columbus?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbus’s Regional Price Parity (93). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbus, IN
Entry-level plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $40K or more, a $3K spread from bottom to top.
Plating 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $51K | +22% | 390 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | +17% | 170 |
| Mississippi | $49K | +17% | 100 |
| Oregon | $47K | +12% | 270 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | +12% | 100 |
| Minnesota | $46K | +12% | 720 |
| California | $46K | +11% | 5,580 |
| Utah | $46K | +11% | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $46K | +9% | 1,020 |
| Iowa | $45K | +9% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $45K | +9% | 1,060 |
| Illinois | $45K | +8% | 1,880 |
| Missouri | $44K | +7% | 180 |
| New York | $44K | +6% | 1,000 |
| Ohio | $44K | +5% | 1,640 |
| Kansas | $44K | +5% | 390 |
| Pennsylvania | $43K | +3% | 1,260 |
| North Carolina | $42K | +1% | 490 |
| Idaho | $41K | -1% | 60 |
| Arizona | $41K | -3% | 620 |
| Florida | $41K | -3% | 420 |
| Maryland | $40K | -3% | 90 |
| Virginia | $40K | -3% | 320 |
| New Jersey | $40K | -3% | 440 |
| South Carolina | $40K | -4% | 580 |
| Maine | $40K | -4% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $39K | -5% | 890 |
| Nebraska | $39K | -6% | 360 |
| Kentucky | $39K | -7% | 560 |
| Georgia | $38K | -8% | 660 |
| Connecticut | $38K | -8% | 660 |
| Indiana | $38K | -8% | 1,920 |
| Nevada | $38K | -9% | 60 |
| Rhode Island | $38K | -10% | 300 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -11% | 220 |
| Michigan | $37K | -11% | 3,460 |
| Texas | $36K | -13% | 2,380 |
| Alabama | $36K | -14% | 300 |
| Louisiana | $32K | -24% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbus numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Columbus, IN?
The median is $37,080 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,080, and experienced plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $39,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Columbus?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,558/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 55.3% 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 plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Columbus?
Columbus has a Regional Price Parity of 93 (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 plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $39,871 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do plating 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.
