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Press Machine Operator Salary by State (2026)
How much does a Press Machine Operator make? The median Press Machine Operator salary in the US is about $46,146 per year (roughly $22.00 an hour), across 171,100 jobs (Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic). But pay swings widely by state — the median ranges from $39,430 in New Mexico to $53,680 in Oregon. Pick your state below for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Press Machine Operator salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| Oregon | $53,680 | 1,180 |
| Maine | $51,820 | 180 |
| Washington | $51,160 | 1,750 |
| Colorado | $50,790 | 1,400 |
| Minnesota | $49,770 | 6,130 |
| Wisconsin | $49,270 | 7,960 |
| Alaska | $49,010 | 80 |
| Illinois | $48,990 | 8,060 |
| Nebraska | $48,690 | 1,320 |
| Montana | $48,490 | 130 |
| California | $48,450 | 7,710 |
| North Dakota | $48,400 | 230 |
| Missouri | $48,310 | 3,240 |
| Iowa | $48,240 | 2,030 |
| Rhode Island | $48,170 | 470 |
| New Hampshire | $48,110 | 600 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,860 | 8,890 |
| Nevada | $47,690 | 580 |
| Maryland | $47,320 | 270 |
| Virginia | $47,300 | 1,790 |
| Indiana | $46,980 | 9,680 |
| New York | $46,930 | 3,340 |
| Wyoming | $46,890 | 60 |
| Kansas | $46,840 | 1,900 |
| Utah | $46,670 | 1,050 |
| Arizona | $46,610 | 1,100 |
| Connecticut | $46,280 | 2,030 |
| Michigan | $46,120 | 22,060 |
| South Dakota | $46,060 | 490 |
| Kentucky | $45,760 | 7,290 |
| Massachusetts | $45,760 | 2,590 |
| New Jersey | $45,680 | 1,950 |
| Arkansas | $45,580 | 3,020 |
| Ohio | $45,230 | 13,350 |
| Georgia | $45,080 | 5,260 |
| Tennessee | $44,780 | 5,380 |
| South Carolina | $44,420 | 4,100 |
| Alabama | $43,830 | 6,000 |
| Vermont | $43,560 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $43,400 | 3,940 |
| West Virginia | $43,070 | 290 |
| Texas | $42,720 | 13,290 |
| Delaware | $41,640 | 240 |
| Oklahoma | $40,930 | 2,480 |
| Louisiana | $40,870 | 760 |
| Mississippi | $40,650 | 1,700 |
| Idaho | $39,580 | 720 |
| Florida | $39,440 | 2,740 |
| New Mexico | $39,430 | 220 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Press Machine Operator make?
- A Press Machine Operator makes a median of about $46,146 per year in the US (roughly $22.00 per hour), according to the latest BLS data. Pay ranges from $39,430 in New Mexico to $53,680 in Oregon depending on the state.
- What is the average Press Machine Operator salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Press Machine Operator salary in the US is about $46,146 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 171,100 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Press Machine Operators the most?
- Oregon has the highest median Press Machine Operator salary at $53,680 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Press Machine Operators the least?
- New Mexico has the lowest median at $39,430 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, code 51-4031). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.