Salaries › Press Machine Operator › North Carolina
Press Machine Operator Salary in North Carolina (2026)
$20.86 per hour · take-home ≈ $35,829/year ($2,986/month) for a single filer
North Carolina ranks 40th of 49 states for Press Machine Operator pay, with a median about 6% below the national average. Of the 3,940 Press Machine Operator jobs BLS counts in North Carolina, the typical worker earns $43,400 a year — though pay ranges from $35,180 for newcomers to $62,120 at the top.
Press Machine Operator pay range in North Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $35,180 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $37,390 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $43,400 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $50,090 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $62,120 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 3,940 Press Machine Operator jobs in North Carolina (occupation code 51-4031, “Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic”).
Gross vs. take-home in North Carolina
A median Press Machine Operator salary of $43,400 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus North Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $35,829 — an effective tax rate of 17.4%.
| Gross (median) | $43,400 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,028 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,320 |
| North Carolina state income tax | −$1,223 |
| Take-home (annual) | $35,829 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,986 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free North Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Press Machine Operator make in North Carolina?
- The median Press Machine Operator salary in North Carolina is $43,400 per year ($20.86 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $37,390 and $50,090.
- What is the take-home pay for a Press Machine Operator in North Carolina?
- On the median salary of $43,400, a single filer in North Carolina takes home about $35,829 per year ($2,986 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.4%.
- How many Press Machine Operator jobs are there in North Carolina?
- BLS counts 3,940 Press Machine Operator jobs in North Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Press Machine Operators
Other salaries in North Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified North Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for North Carolina.