Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,220 or more. The middle half of forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Houston earn between $28,010 and $46,370.
- $24K10th
- $28K25th
- $37KMedian
- $46K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,350 | $3,279 | $18.92 |
| Median | $36,730 | $3,061 | $17.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,010 | $2,334 | $13.47 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,370 | $3,864 | $22.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Houston earn about the same as the Texas average ($39,210) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($51,680). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $49,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $39,350 | $36,730 | $24,440 | $61,220 | 230 |
| Texas | $39,210 | $37,390 | $24,440 | $56,210 | 720 |
| United States | $51,680 | $49,030 | $36,800 | $68,720 | 8,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary after taxes in Houston
On the average salary of $39,350, a single filer in Houston takes home about $33,798 a year, or $2,816 a month and $1,300 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $39,350 buys what about $39,897 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 2nd of 2 Texas metro areas for this job; Dallas pays the most ($44,690).
- Dallas$44,690
- Houston$39,350
All Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries in Texas
Highest-paying cities for forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($72,070).
- San Francisco, CA$72,070
- Boston, MA$62,630
- Los Angeles, CA$61,970
- Denver, CO$60,360
- Philadelphia, PA$59,440
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by city
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Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Houston: questions
How much do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make an hour in Houston?
$18.92 an hour on average, and $17.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $24,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic take-home pay in Houston?
About $33,798 a year ($2,816 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,350. Texas has no state income tax.
Do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% less than the U.S. average for this job ($51,680).
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 51-4022; area Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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 1.22, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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