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Set up, operate, or tend machines, such as glass forming machines, plodder machines, and tuber machines, to shape and form products, such as glassware, food, rubber, soap, brick, tile, clay, wax, tobacco, or cosmetics. Excludes "Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders" (51-9196) and "Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders" (51-6042).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
72,870 | 2.2 % | $17.69 | $36,800 | 0.6 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Wage | $11.57 | $13.61 | $16.89 | $21.38 | $25.40 |
Annual Wage (2) | $24,070 | $28,310 | $35,120 | $44,460 | $52,840 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 16,270 | 3.91 | $18.61 | $38,710 |
Rubber Product Manufacturing | 15,210 | 11.27 | $17.66 | $36,730 |
Plastics Product Manufacturing | 10,740 | 1.83 | $16.46 | $34,240 |
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3,140 | 0.87 | $17.23 | $35,840 |
Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 2,790 | 1.03 | $18.08 | $37,620 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rubber Product Manufacturing | 15,210 | 11.27 | $17.66 | $36,730 |
Tobacco Manufacturing | 550 | 4.84 | $20.24 | $42,110 |
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 16,270 | 3.91 | $18.61 | $38,710 |
Animal Food Manufacturing | 1,410 | 2.27 | $17.27 | $35,920 |
Plastics Product Manufacturing | 10,740 | 1.83 | $16.46 | $34,240 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 1,010 | 1.09 | $23.72 | $49,330 |
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 230 | 0.21 | $22.64 | $47,080 |
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 2,060 | 0.70 | $20.91 | $43,480 |
Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,130 | 1.42 | $20.62 | $42,890 |
Tobacco Manufacturing | 550 | 4.84 | $20.24 | $42,110 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ohio | 6,900 | 1.27 | 2.53 | $16.91 | $35,180 |
Texas | 5,130 | 0.42 | 0.84 | $15.14 | $31,500 |
California | 4,630 | 0.27 | 0.54 | $17.50 | $36,390 |
North Carolina | 4,440 | 1.01 | 2.01 | $18.44 | $38,360 |
Tennessee | 3,410 | 1.15 | 2.29 | $15.39 | $32,010 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nebraska | 1,940 | 1.98 | 3.94 | $19.03 | $39,580 |
Alabama | 2,980 | 1.53 | 3.04 | $18.74 | $38,970 |
South Dakota | 550 | 1.30 | 2.58 | $16.72 | $34,780 |
Ohio | 6,900 | 1.27 | 2.53 | $16.91 | $35,180 |
Kansas | 1,680 | 1.22 | 2.43 | $18.23 | $37,910 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Idaho | 90 | 0.13 | 0.25 | $22.11 | $46,000 |
Louisiana | 540 | 0.28 | 0.56 | $21.11 | $43,910 |
Maryland | (8) | (8) | (8) | $21.00 | $43,680 |
Connecticut | 210 | 0.13 | 0.25 | $20.98 | $43,640 |
Washington | 760 | 0.23 | 0.47 | $20.84 | $43,350 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 2,910 | 0.31 | 0.61 | $17.06 | $35,480 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,970 | 0.32 | 0.64 | $16.89 | $35,130 |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,840 | 0.51 | 1.02 | $14.73 | $30,630 |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,250 | 1.03 | 2.04 | $18.21 | $37,880 |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 1,210 | 0.26 | 0.52 | $17.70 | $36,810 |
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 1,100 | 0.37 | 0.73 | $14.10 | $29,320 |
Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 1,010 | 0.98 | 1.94 | $14.46 | $30,070 |
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 990 | 0.48 | 0.95 | $16.21 | $33,730 |
Kansas City, MO-KS | 880 | 0.83 | 1.65 | $19.24 | $40,010 |
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | 810 | 0.30 | 0.59 | $18.15 | $37,760 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ | 440 | 7.30 | 14.49 | $21.26 | $44,230 |
Muskegon, MI | 410 | 6.38 | 12.67 | $21.75 | $45,240 |
Dover-Durham, NH-ME | 280 | 5.29 | 10.50 | $16.32 | $33,940 |
Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 160 | 4.05 | 8.04 | $16.57 | $34,470 |
Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 120 | 2.56 | 5.09 | $16.69 | $34,720 |
Racine, WI | 190 | 2.42 | 4.81 | $22.15 | $46,070 |
Midland, MI | 80 | 2.38 | 4.72 | $15.68 | $32,620 |
Akron, OH | 760 | 2.32 | 4.62 | $16.89 | $35,140 |
Lincoln, NE | 410 | 2.28 | 4.52 | $21.32 | $44,350 |
Toledo, OH | 580 | 1.96 | 3.90 | $16.93 | $35,220 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Haven, CT | 50 | 0.17 | 0.33 | $27.77 | $57,770 |
Elmira, NY | (8) | (8) | (8) | $24.78 | $51,540 |
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 470 | 1.04 | 2.07 | $23.93 | $49,760 |
Reading, PA | 100 | 0.57 | 1.14 | $22.93 | $47,700 |
Duluth, MN-WI | 100 | 0.81 | 1.61 | $22.51 | $46,830 |
Medford, OR | 40 | 0.50 | 1.00 | $22.40 | $46,590 |
Huntsville, AL | 230 | 1.02 | 2.02 | $22.16 | $46,090 |
Racine, WI | 190 | 2.42 | 4.81 | $22.15 | $46,070 |
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA | 40 | 0.37 | 0.73 | $22.11 | $45,980 |
Syracuse, NY | 40 | 0.13 | 0.25 | $21.85 | $45,450 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kansas nonmetropolitan area | 1,050 | 2.66 | 5.29 | $18.13 | $37,710 |
North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 1,020 | 3.04 | 6.03 | $16.11 | $33,500 |
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 910 | 6.72 | 13.35 | $16.21 | $33,710 |
Balance of Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | 850 | 3.13 | 6.22 | $16.53 | $34,390 |
West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 830 | 3.23 | 6.42 | $18.77 | $39,040 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 580 | 8.50 | 16.89 | $22.71 | $47,240 |
South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | 790 | 7.35 | 14.59 | $13.88 | $28,860 |
Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | 910 | 6.72 | 13.35 | $16.21 | $33,710 |
Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 510 | 4.85 | 9.64 | $15.53 | $32,300 |
Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | 360 | 3.93 | 7.80 | $19.80 | $41,190 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | 110 | 1.18 | 2.34 | $25.99 | $54,050 |
Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | 260 | 1.39 | 2.77 | $23.48 | $48,840 |
Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | 580 | 8.50 | 16.89 | $22.71 | $47,240 |
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.48 | 0.95 | $21.87 | $45,500 |
Northern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | 140 | 0.87 | 1.74 | $21.64 | $45,010 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2018 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2018 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 29, 2019