SOC 51-4193 · Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Memphis, TN

The average salary for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Memphis, Tennessee is $42,880 a year ($20.61 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $42,990: half of the 70 people in this job in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($45,100).

$42,880average per year

$20.61 / hourMedian $42,990Take-home ≈ $36,634

  • $28K10th
  • $37K25th
  • $43KMedian
  • $46K75th
  • $53K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

70people in this job
-5%vs U.S. average
#2 of 6Tennessee metros
92cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay range in Memphis

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $53,340 or more. The middle half of plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Memphis earn between $37,360 and $46,460.

  • $28K10th
  • $37K25th
  • $43KMedian
  • $46K75th
  • $53K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$42,880$3,573$20.62
Median$42,990$3,582$20.67
Entry level (25th percentile)$37,360$3,113$17.96
Experienced (75th percentile)$46,460$3,872$22.34

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.

Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Memphis earn 3% more than the Tennessee average ($41,470) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($45,100). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $43,960.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Memphis$42,880$42,990$28,350$53,34070
Tennessee$41,470$39,510$29,700$51,8401,660
United States$45,100$43,960$33,790$60,37032,410

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary after taxes in Memphis

On the average salary of $42,880, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $36,634 a year, or $3,053 a month and $1,409 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.

The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:

StatePer yearPer month
Working in TN$36,634$3,053
Working in MS$35,651$2,971
Working in AR$35,535$2,961

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.

Tennessee paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Memphis a good place for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $42,880 buys what about $46,518 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $42,880 is worth in another city

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other Tennessee cities

Memphis ranks 2nd of 6 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($46,090).

All Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries in Tennessee

Highest-paying cities for plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Ogden, UT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($64,690).

Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by city

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Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Memphis: questions

How much do plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make an hour in Memphis?

$20.61 an hour on average, and $20.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in Memphis?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,360, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic take-home pay in Memphis?

About $36,634 a year ($3,053 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,880. Tennessee has no state income tax.

Do plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?

The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($45,100).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4193; area Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.6%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).

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