Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary

The median cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in the United States is $46,330 per year ($22.27/hour). Salaries range from $35,760 at the entry level to $65,510+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 171,200 cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to decline 12.1% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$46,330
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.27
per hour
Employment
171,200
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$35,760
25th percentile
$38,870
Median
$46,330
75th percentile
$55,410
90th percentile
$65,510

Job Growth (2024-2034)

-12.1%
Decline

Annual Openings

14,400
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics.

Cutting, punching, and press-machine operators run the press brakes, punch presses, shears, and hydraulic/mechanical stamping presses that turn coil steel, plate, and sheet plastic into formed and blanked parts. Employers span automotive stamping (Ford stamping plants at Buffalo and Woodhaven, GM Parma, Stellantis Sterling Stamping), steel producers (Nucor, Steel Dynamics, US Steel Great Lakes), bearing and precision-parts makers (Timken, Precision Castparts), metals service centers (Ryerson, Metal Sales Manufacturing), and diversified fabricators (Simmons Bedding frame lines, agricultural equipment fabricators). BLS national median is $46,330 (about $22.27/hr); p10 sits at $35,760 (~$17.19/hr) and p90 at $65,510 (~$31.49/hr), with 171,200 workers nationally. Union scale at UAW Ford/GM/Stellantis stamping plants, USW at Nucor and Steel Dynamics, and IUE-CWA at select fabricators drives the p90 tier β€” die-setup speed, first-piece inspection discipline, and press-tonnage judgment are what separate a $17/hr tender from a $30/hr veteran setter.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Die setup & tool change
Loading, aligning, and clamping dies into a mechanical or hydraulic press (100-2,500 ton typical on stamping presses; 30-400 ton on press brakes). At Ford Buffalo Stamping and GM Parma, a fast setter turns a die change in 25-40 minutes on a 1,600-ton line via SMED; the plant standard is 60-90. Every minute of die-change downtime is $85-250 in lost production.
First-piece inspection & GD&T
Run 1-3 parts, measure critical dimensions per the control plan with calipers, micrometers, height gauges, CMM (if available). Read Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing symbols on the print β€” flatness, parallelism, position, profile. Sign the first-piece card. A missed first-piece drift on a Ford stamped hood-inner is a $18-60k rework.
Press tonnage & tonnage-monitor reading
Every mechanical stamping press has a tonnage monitor logging peak force per stroke. Rising tonnage means die wear, coil-thickness drift, or lubricant loss β€” catching it before die crash saves $8k-180k in die repair. USW plants at Nucor and Steel Dynamics train setters to read tonnage curves as first-line diagnostic.
Coil handling & feed-line setup (uncoiler, straightener, roll-feeder)
Automotive stamping runs coil steel from 0.6-3.2 mm thick, 800-1,800 mm wide, on Bradbury or Coilmatic feed lines feeding a Bliss, Verson, or Schuler press. Setup includes uncoiler tension, straightener roll gaps, roll-feeder pilot pitch, and misfeed detection. A crash-in-die from a misaligned coil is $30k-500k in die damage.
Die maintenance & minor repair
Grinding a dulled trim edge, replacing a punch or button, resetting a nitrogen cylinder, lubricating slides β€” this is the daily operator-mechanic overlap. Skilled setters at Ford Stamping and Precision Castparts (Berkshire) run this maintenance without a die-shop callout, worth $2-4/hr differential.
Safety compliance (LOTO, two-hand controls, light curtains, E-stops)
Press operations are the highest-consequence category in metal manufacturing β€” OSHA 29 CFR 1910.217 mandates two-hand controls, light curtains, and LOTO on every energy source. A bypass caught during a Ford or Nucor plant safety audit is instant termination. Every operator carries personal LOTO locks.
Statistical process control (SPC) on critical dimensions
Log a sample every 100-500 hits (frequency defined by control plan), plot on Xbar-R or Xbar-S charts. Trend detection (7-point run, out-of-control-point) triggers die-inspection before out-of-spec ships. Skipping SPC entries is the fastest path to a customer chargeback at Ford, GM, or Timken.

How to Become a Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

  1. 1
    High school diploma or GED
    Required at every large stamping and metals employer. Ford, GM, Stellantis, and Nucor also require a Ramsay or Bennett mechanical aptitude test (60-90 min) covering print reading, mechanical concepts, and basic math.
  2. 2
    Apply as press operator / tender at a large employer or metals service center
    Ford, GM, Stellantis stamping plants hire directly (UAW lottery windows). Nucor, Steel Dynamics, and Timken hire year-round. Metal service centers (Ryerson, Metal Sales Manufacturing) and general fabricators start at $17-20/hr with shorter promotion ladders but easier entry.
  3. 3
    Complete pre-employment drug screen + mechanical aptitude assessment
    5-panel drug screen + Ramsay Mechanical Aptitude (or equivalent). Some higher-consequence stamping employers add a color-vision test and a hearing baseline. Nucor and Steel Dynamics require a physical demonstrating 40-lb repeated lift capability.
  4. 4
    Complete plant onboarding (2-4 weeks) with press-specific safety training
    Every large employer runs LOTO, two-hand-controls, light-curtain, and press-guard training. Ford Buffalo Stamping runs 3 weeks including a die-observation rotation; Nucor Crawfordsville runs 4 weeks including tonnage-monitor training.
  5. 5
    Move from tender β†’ operator β†’ setter over 24-48 months
    Tender loads/unloads and cleans; operator runs the press at rated speed and does first-piece inspection; setter owns die-changes, tonnage judgment, and die maintenance. Each step adds $2-4/hr. Setter is where the durable career money starts.
  6. 6
    Add certifications: AWS D1.1 (if welding), ASNT NDT Level II, ASQ CQI, forklift, crane
    Metal fabrication is skill-stackable. AWS D1.1 opens welder-fabricator hybrid roles at $28-36/hr. ASQ Certified Quality Inspector opens quality-tech roles at $26-32/hr. Forklift + overhead crane are baseline. All are typically employer-paid at large stamping plants.
  7. 7
    Cross-train into die-maker / tool-and-die-maker apprenticeship, or into skilled trades
    Die maker / tool-and-die-maker is a 4-5 year apprenticeship (UAW at Ford/GM/Stellantis, USW at Nucor) ending at journeyman rate $34-44/hr. This is the highest-ROI move from stamping-floor operator and one of the most stable trades in US manufacturing.

Career Progression

Press Tender / Line Loader (entry)
0-1 yrs$35k-42k ($16.75-20.25/hr) + shift differential
  • β€’Load coil, sheet, or blank stock onto the press infeed under supervision
  • β€’Unload finished parts from the outfeed, stack on pallets or racks, apply part-ID labels
  • β€’Clear minor jams and misfeeds; escalate mechanical faults to the setter
  • β€’Complete LOTO, two-hand-control, and PPE checklists at start of shift
Next: Press Operator at 12-24 months once you've been observed on 200+ hours of loading and first-piece inspection.
Press Operator
1-4 yrs$42k-54k ($20.25-26/hr) + shift differential + OT
  • β€’Run the press at rated speed (typically 8-30 strokes per minute on stamping presses; 4-12 hits per minute on press brakes)
  • β€’Perform first-piece inspection per the control plan; sign the first-piece card
  • β€’Log SPC checks on critical dimensions at defined intervals (every 100-500 hits typical)
  • β€’Perform basic die maintenance (lubrication, minor punch swap, nitrogen check) under setter oversight
Next: Setter at 3-6 years once you've run 3+ die families and passed the die-change qualification.
Press Setter / Setup Operator
3-8 yrs$54k-68k ($26-32.75/hr) + shift differential + OT + skill premium
  • β€’Own die changes on 8-20 different dies; hit plant standard changeover time (typically 30-60 min per die)
  • β€’Read tonnage-monitor curves; call out die wear and stop the press before a crash
  • β€’Perform full die maintenance β€” trim-edge grinding, punch/button replacement, spring/nitrogen replacement
  • β€’Coach operators on first-piece inspection and SPC discipline; sign off on their die-change qualification
Next: Sr setter, group leader, or tool-and-die apprentice at 6-10 years.
Sr Setter / Group Leader
6-12 yrs$62k-82k ($30-39.50/hr) + shift differential + OT
  • β€’Own an entire press cell (2-4 presses + feed lines + outfeed)
  • β€’Lead a 4-10 person crew across a shift; own daily takt, quality, and safety metrics
  • β€’Coordinate die-shop callouts, coil-supply timing, and quality-hold rework
  • β€’Feed the plant's daily production board with tonnage, downtime, and defect data
Next: Shift supervisor or tool-and-die journeyman at 10-14 years.
Shift Supervisor / Stamping Manager
10+ yrs$82k-125k salaried + 10-22% bonus + LTIP at large OEMs
  • β€’Own 6-24 presses and 25-90 hourly workers across a shift
  • β€’Meet plant OEE, first-pass yield, safety, and attendance targets
  • β€’Own capex-funded press upgrades, die-shop capital planning, and new-part launch readiness
  • β€’Report to Plant Manager; peer to Assembly, Quality, and Maintenance Managers

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 15 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through a die change on a 1,000-ton mechanical stamping press.technical
Lock out and tag out first β€” the #1 rule. Bring the ram to bottom-dead-center or the plant's parked position, energize LOTO on the main disconnect, apply personal locks. Remove the outgoing die: uncouple air, uncouple nitrogen, retract die clamps, engage the die cart or die-lifter, roll the die out. Verify the incoming die's tag, part number, and last-shot record β€” a wrong die in a 1,000-ton press is a $60-400k crash. Roll the incoming die into position, align to the ram centerline with die-locators, engage clamps to torque spec, connect nitrogen and air lines, run a test-stroke at low tonnage under two-hand controls. Watch the tonnage-monitor peak on the first stroke β€” if it's more than 8-12% above the die's baseline, stop and investigate. Standard die change on a Ford Buffalo Stamping or GM Parma line is 45-60 min for a full-tool change; SMED-trained setters hit 25-35 min consistently.
Q2. Describe a time you caught a die-wear issue before a crash.behavioral
STAR. Situation: running a 600-ton trim press on a Ford hood-inner die at Buffalo Stamping. Task: routine tonnage-monitor check every 50 strokes. Action: peak tonnage crept from a baseline 340 tons to 382 tons over 400 strokes β€” an 11% rise over 90 minutes. Standard-work threshold to stop-and-inspect is +8%. I stopped the press, tagged out, and pulled the die for a trim-edge inspection. Found a 2mm chip on the trim button caused by a slug not ejecting properly. Replaced the button, re-ran the die at low tonnage, tonnage curve returned to baseline. Result: no die crash, no downtime beyond 45 min for the button swap. Alternative outcome had I not stopped: continued rise would have chipped the punch, then broken the punch, then crashed the die β€” $80-240k in die-shop rework and 8-24 hours of downtime. Interviewers screen hard for this β€” setters who read tonnage as a leading indicator are the ones who make journeyman rate quickly.
Q3. How do you handle a supervisor telling you to skip first-piece inspection to hold the line pace?situational
Don't skip it and don't argue on the floor. Say directly: 'I'll do the inspection as fast as I can β€” I can't sign the run card without first-piece.' If they push, complete the inspection, log it, and note the pace pressure in the shift log. At Ford, GM, Stellantis, Nucor, and Timken, first-piece inspection is a control-plan requirement traceable to IATF 16949 for automotive parts. A skipped first-piece on a critical safety-related part (any suspension or frame component) is a corrective-action-worthy escalation and, in an audit, is exactly what triggers a supplier chargeback. Every plant has a quality hotline for this. The 8-10 minutes of pace loss isn't worth a chargeback, a corrective action letter, or a personal disciplinary record.
Q4. Why press operator / setter specifically rather than assembly or warehouse at the same pay?culture
Two reasons. First, the skill compounds into skilled-trade territory. Adding tonnage-monitor judgment, die-maintenance experience, and eventually a tool-and-die-maker apprenticeship takes a $22/hr operator to a $38-44/hr journeyman at Ford, GM, or Timken. Assembly and warehouse ladders top out much lower. Second, the demand is durable. Every automotive OEM, every steel processor, every appliance and furniture manufacturer needs stamping and press capacity, and the setup skill is portable across all of them β€” Ford stamping, Nucor coil processing, Simmons frame stamping, Precision Castparts precision blanking all use the same core setup discipline.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
Full setter on a 1,000+ ton press by year 3, with tonnage-monitor and die-maintenance sign-off. Year 5 target is either Sr Setter / Group Leader on a UAW-covered line (Ford Buffalo, GM Parma, Stellantis Sterling) at $32-38/hr, or entry into the tool-and-die-maker apprenticeship, which lands at journeyman rate $38-44/hr at 4-5 years in. Long-term I want to be at a large stamping employer with the strongest die-shop culture β€” Ford Stamping, Timken bearings, or Precision Castparts. To get there I'll pick up AWS D1.1 welding, ASQ CQI, and enroll in the plant's tool-and-die apprenticeship in year 3-4.

Resume Template β€” Press Tender / Line Loader (0-2 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Press Tender / Line Loader (0-2 yrs)
  • β–ΈLoaded coil steel and unloaded stamped parts on 600-ton Verson mechanical press at Ford Buffalo Stamping (0.9-1.8 mm thickness range).
  • β–ΈCompleted 100% LOTO + two-hand-control + light-curtain safety checklists across 3 rotating shifts; zero OSHA recordable events.
  • β–ΈCleared 88% of minor misfeeds without setter escalation; operator scorecard top quartile.
  • β–ΈOSHA 10 certified. Forklift + overhead crane certified. $19.50/hr + $2.00 3rd-shift differential + OT. UAW Local 897.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—Bypassing two-hand controls, light curtains, or die-guards to speed cycle time β€” instant termination at every UAW stamping plant, Nucor, Steel Dynamics, and Timken.
  • βœ—Skipping LOTO before die-cavity work β€” the fastest way to lose a hand or a life, and instant termination at any large stamping employer.
  • βœ—Skipping first-piece inspection β€” an IATF 16949 audit failure and a personal disciplinary record.
  • βœ—Running through a rising tonnage curve to protect pace β€” the die-crash trigger. Setters who do this lose the setter position on first offense.
  • βœ—Poor 5S at the press station β€” feeds directly into annual coaching review and delays setter qualification.
  • βœ—Attendance is #1 β€” 3 unexcused absences during probation ends the offer at UAW-covered stamping plants and USW-covered steel plants.
  • βœ—Cell phone at the press outside of designated break areas β€” universal write-up at Ford, GM, Stellantis, Nucor, and Steel Dynamics.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“Union scale (UAW at Ford/GM/Stellantis stamping, USW at Nucor/Steel Dynamics/US Steel, IUE-CWA at select fabricators) adds 15-28% to base plus a strong pension and medical package β€” the single biggest lever in this trade.
  • βœ“Shift differential β€” 2nd shift adds $0.75-2/hr, 3rd shift adds $1.50-3.50/hr, weekend shifts $3-5/hr.
  • βœ“Setter qualification premium β€” the tender-to-operator step adds $2-4/hr; the operator-to-setter step adds another $3-5/hr and unlocks OT priority.
  • βœ“Tool-and-die-maker apprenticeship (4-5 year path at UAW Ford/GM/Stellantis) ends at journeyman rate $38-44/hr plus benefits β€” the highest ROI move from press-floor operator.
  • βœ“OEM certifications on specific presses (Verson, Bliss, Schuler, Aida, Amada press-brake) command $1-3/hr differential and are portable across employers.
  • βœ“OT eligibility is significant β€” 45-55 hour weeks are common at Ford Stamping, Nucor mini-mills, and Simmons frame lines. OT premium adds $10-24k/year.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonuses of $2,000-8,000 are common at stamping plants under target headcount β€” always ask, especially with die-shop or tool-and-die experience.
  • βœ“Metro premium: MI, OH, IN, IL, PA, and KY stamping plants pay 12-22% above the national median.

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Resume Review β€” $29

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Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$39K
$54Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Oregon
$54K
+16%
Maine
$52K
+12%
Washington
$51K
+10%
Colorado
$51K
+10%
Minnesota
$50K
+7%
Wisconsin
$49K
+6%
Alaska
$49K
+6%
Illinois
$49K
+6%
Nebraska
$49K
+5%
Montana
$48K
+5%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Oregon$53,680+15.9%
Maine$51,820+11.8%
Washington$51,160+10.4%
Colorado$50,790+9.6%
Minnesota$49,770+7.4%
Wisconsin$49,270+6.3%
Alaska$49,010+5.8%
Illinois$48,990+5.7%
Nebraska$48,690+5.1%
Montana$48,490+4.7%
1–10 of 49

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
Flint, MI$78,600+69.7%
Rome, GA$63,740+37.6%
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI$62,250+34.4%
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$60,230+30.0%
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ$60,080+29.7%
Bellingham, WA$59,380+28.2%
Lewiston-Auburn, ME$59,300+28.0%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$58,580+26.4%
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$58,240+25.7%
Mankato, MN$57,850+24.9%
1–10 of 284
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earning $46,330/year would need 1287 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1381 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries β†’
πŸ“ˆ See how cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary trend (2011–2024) β†’