How much does a cutting and slicing machine setter make?
The median cutting and slicing machine setter in the United States earns $46,570 per year, about $22.39 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all cutting and slicing machine setters earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-9032.
Cutting and slicing machine setter salary range
Pay for cutting and slicing machine setters spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $35,930 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $61,120. The average (mean) wage of $47,460 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,930 | $17.27 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $39,440 | $18.96 | |
| Median (50th) | $46,570 | $22.39 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $53,800 | $25.87 | |
| 90th percentile | $61,120 | $29.39 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders (SOC 51-9032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Cutting and slicing machine setter salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Cutting and slicing machine setters earn the most in Minnesota at $58,260 a year, and the least in New Mexico at $32,770. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $58,260 | 1,130 |
| Vermont | $52,220 | 100 |
| Colorado | $51,750 | 700 |
| Montana | $51,540 | 100 |
| Oregon | $51,180 | 990 |
| Missouri | $50,930 | 1,120 |
| Washington | $50,430 | 760 |
| New Hampshire | $50,290 | 90 |
| Illinois | $49,740 | 1,770 |
| New York | $49,680 | 1,870 |
| Iowa | $49,600 | 920 |
| Maine | $49,200 | 160 |
| New Jersey | $48,600 | 1,040 |
| Ohio | $48,400 | 3,000 |
| Nebraska | $48,300 | 530 |
| Kentucky | $48,180 | 900 |
| Wisconsin | $48,040 | 1,300 |
| North Dakota | $47,480 | 70 |
| South Carolina | $47,410 | 730 |
| Arkansas | $47,320 | 800 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,850 | 1,630 |
| Idaho | $46,840 | 160 |
| Arizona | $46,780 | 760 |
| Alaska | $46,240 | 30 |
| Indiana | $46,150 | 2,110 |
| California | $46,110 | 3,080 |
| Rhode Island | $45,950 | 210 |
| Utah | $45,510 | 740 |
| South Dakota | $44,980 | 460 |
| Maryland | $44,820 | 280 |
| Virginia | $44,790 | 840 |
| Kansas | $44,760 | 760 |
| Michigan | $44,620 | 730 |
| Connecticut | $44,530 | 450 |
| Georgia | $44,130 | 1,230 |
| Tennessee | $44,030 | 1,260 |
| Massachusetts | $43,790 | 1,280 |
| North Carolina | $43,770 | 3,100 |
| Nevada | $43,470 | 340 |
| Texas | $42,210 | 3,650 |
| Mississippi | $41,590 | 710 |
| Louisiana | $41,170 | 110 |
| Florida | $40,540 | 1,370 |
| Alabama | $39,740 | 590 |
| West Virginia | $37,920 | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $37,910 | 620 |
| New Mexico | $32,770 | 200 |
State median wages for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders (SOC 51-9032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for cutting and slicing machine setters
The BLS projects employment of cutting and slicing machine setters to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 0.9%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 45,900 jobs in 2025 moving toward 45,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 5,400 openings a year for cutting and slicing machine setters. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a cutting and slicing machine setter
The typical entry-level education for cutting and slicing machine setters is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a cutting and slicing machine setter earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Minnesota, $58,260) and the lowest (New Mexico, $32,770) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 44,980 people work as cutting and slicing machine setters in the United States. At $46,570 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Cutting and slicing machine setter salary FAQ
How much does a cutting and slicing machine setter make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a cutting and slicing machine setter is $22.39. The middle half of cutting and slicing machine setters earn between $18.96 and $25.87 per hour.
What is the highest cutting and slicing machine setter salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of cutting and slicing machine setters earn more than $61,120 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a cutting and slicing machine setter make a year?
The median annual salary for a cutting and slicing machine setter is $46,570. The average (mean) wage of $47,460 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a cutting and slicing machine setter a well paid job?
At $46,570 a year, a cutting and slicing machine setter earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 44,980 people work as cutting and slicing machine setters in the United States.
Which state pays cutting and slicing machine setters the most?
Minnesota has the highest median salary for cutting and slicing machine setters at $58,260 a year. Vermont ($52,220) and Colorado ($51,750) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a cutting and slicing machine setter a good career?
Employment of cutting and slicing machine setters is projected to shrink 0.9% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 5,400 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a cutting and slicing machine setter?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for cutting and slicing machine setters as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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