Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Metal workers and plastic workers, all other, represent a specialized group within manufacturing and production, with national employment of about 20,000 people. The national median annual salary of $42,750 places this occupation in a solid earning range for hands-on technical work that typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent. The role is well aligned with individuals who enjoy working with their hands, using mechanical skills, and applying fine motor abilities and physical stamina. Success in this field also draws on being detail oriented and able to apply mathematics, science, and critical and analytical thinking to practical tasks. Creativity and innovation, along with comfort using computers and information technology, can further support advancement and versatility. Leadership skills may open doors to supervisory or team lead positions. While projected employment growth is negative, there are still annual openings, making this a potential fit for people who match the skill profile and are thoughtful about where they seek opportunities.
The national median annual salary for metal workers and plastic workers, all other, is $42,750. Earnings vary meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, New York shows a median salary of $60,740 and Washington reaches $65,760, both noticeably higher than the national median. Colorado, at $52,430, and California, at $47,380, also exceed the national median, while Massachusetts is close at $47,060. At the metro level, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria offers a median of $45,630, while Boston-Cambridge-Newton stands at $50,050. Several California metros have higher pay, including San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara at $53,930 and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont at $60,430. Washington state overall presents one of the highest listed median salaries at $65,760. These differences suggest that workers willing to target specific states or metro areas may access stronger earning potential within this occupation.
This occupation has national employment of about 20,000 workers and a projected employment growth rate of -9.5%. Despite the negative growth projection, there are still about 2,000 annual openings. This combination indicates that while overall employment levels are expected to decline, there is ongoing turnover that continues to generate job opportunities. The same -9.5% projected growth rate appears across the highlighted states and metro areas, indicating a consistent pattern rather than regional variation in the projected trend. For someone considering this field, the data suggests that careful planning around location and long-term career strategy is important. It may be valuable to monitor employment conditions over time and remain open to related roles, such as the listed similar occupations including patternmakers, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters and operators, or other metal and plastic machine-setting positions, as additional career pathways within a similar skills space.
Location plays a major role in opportunities for metal workers and plastic workers, all other. Among states, California combines a relatively high employment level of 1,970 with a median salary of $47,380 and the highest opportunity score listed (67.38). New York and Washington both show higher median salaries—$60,740 and $65,760 respectively—though with smaller employment counts of 150 and 360. Massachusetts and Colorado offer mid-range salaries around $47,060 and $52,430 with lower employment levels. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara stands out with the highest opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $53,930, though employment is relatively small at 70. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont combines a median salary of $60,430 with 160 jobs. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim offers the largest listed metro employment at 910 with a median salary of $47,860. These differences highlight tradeoffs between salary levels, total job counts, and opportunity scores across regions.
The typical education requirement for metal workers and plastic workers, all other, is a high school diploma or equivalent. This educational pathway makes the field accessible to individuals who want to enter the workforce without a longer academic commitment. However, the skill profile indicates that success depends on more than basic education alone. Fine motor skills, mechanical abilities, and physical strength and stamina are central to the work. Being detail oriented and able to apply mathematics and science supports accuracy and problem-solving. Critical and analytical thinking helps in making sound judgments and addressing technical challenges. Comfort with computers and information technology is also important, reflecting the role of modern tools and systems in this occupation. Creativity and innovation, along with leadership, can help individuals take on more complex tasks or supervisory roles over time. Together, these skills complement the baseline high school education and shape long-term career potential in the field.
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