Cutting Machine Operators Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$34,920
- 25th Percentile — Junior$39,300
- 50th Percentile — Median$45,760
- 75th Percentile — Senior$60,230
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$66,280
Half of Cutting Machine Operators in Kentucky earn more than $45,760. The top 10% make $66,280 or more, while entry-level workers start around $34,920.
Cutting Machine Operators in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 21st of 49 states for Cutting Machine Operators pay, at $48,770 per year (0.7% above the U.S. average of $48,430).
- 7,290 people work as Cutting Machine Operators in Kentucky — 4.3% of all U.S. Cutting Machine Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 3.31: Cutting Machine Operators jobs are more concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $34,920; the top 10% earn over $66,280.
- Hourly equivalent: $23.45 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Oregon at $55,390.
- Among manufacturing jobs in Kentucky, First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers pays the most ($74,710).
Cutting Machine Operators Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Cutting Machine Operators here earn $48,770 on average, placing the state 21st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $48,770 is roughly equivalent to $58,759 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Massachusetts ($49,360), Montana ($49,330), Nebraska ($49,090) are the closest alternatives for Cutting Machine Operators weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Manufacturing Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers $74,710/yr Kentucky +53.2% vs this role
- Machinists $59,560/yr Kentucky +22.1% vs this role
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters $54,020/yr Kentucky +10.8% vs this role
- Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Operators $51,230/yr Kentucky +5.0% vs this role
- Printing Press Operators $49,510/yr Kentucky +1.5% vs this role
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $49,440/yr Kentucky +1.4% vs this role
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers $47,320/yr Kentucky 3.0% vs this role
- Butchers and Meat Cutters $35,390/yr Kentucky 27.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cutting Machine Operators salary in Kentucky?
The average Cutting Machine Operators salary in Kentucky is $48,770 per year (median $45,760), which is 0.7% above the national average of $48,430.
How does Kentucky rank for Cutting Machine Operators pay?
Kentucky ranks 21st out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is Oregon ($55,390/yr).
How much do entry-level Cutting Machine Operators make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cutting Machine Operators in Kentucky earn about $34,920 per year and the 25th percentile is $39,300.
How much do Cutting Machine Operators make per hour in Kentucky?
About $23.45 per hour, based on the $48,770 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cutting Machine Operators work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 7,290 Cutting Machine Operators jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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