BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Cutting Machine Operators in Tennessee

$43,980 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$21.14 per hour

▼ 9.2% below U.S. average44th of 49 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$43,980per year
Median$44,780per year
Hourly$21.14per hour
10th – 90th percentile$35,620 – $53,300per year

Cutting Machine Operators Pay Range in Tennessee

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$35,620
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$37,580
  • 50th Percentile — Median$44,780
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$48,310
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$53,300

Half of Cutting Machine Operators in Tennessee earn more than $44,780. The top 10% make $53,300 or more, while entry-level workers start around $35,620.

Cutting Machine Operators in Tennessee: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Tennessee ranks 44th of 49 states for Cutting Machine Operators pay, at $43,980 per year (9.2% below the U.S. average of $48,430).
  • 5,380 people work as Cutting Machine Operators in Tennessee — 3.1% of all U.S. Cutting Machine Operators jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.49: Cutting Machine Operators jobs are more concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,620; the top 10% earn over $53,300.
  • Hourly equivalent: $21.14 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Oregon at $55,390.
  • Among manufacturing jobs in Tennessee, First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers pays the most ($71,330).

Cutting Machine Operators Job Market in Tennessee

Key factors affecting compensation

Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Cutting Machine Operators here earn $43,980 on average, placing the state 44th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $43,980 is roughly equivalent to $49,977 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Delaware ($44,700), Arkansas ($44,480), Oklahoma ($44,240) 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

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Cutting Machine Operators salary in Tennessee?

The average Cutting Machine Operators salary in Tennessee is $43,980 per year (median $44,780), which is 9.2% below the national average of $48,430.

How does Tennessee rank for Cutting Machine Operators pay?

Tennessee ranks 44th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is Oregon ($55,390/yr).

How much do entry-level Cutting Machine Operators make in Tennessee?

The lowest-paid 10% of Cutting Machine Operators in Tennessee earn about $35,620 per year and the 25th percentile is $37,580.

How much do Cutting Machine Operators make per hour in Tennessee?

About $21.14 per hour, based on the $43,980 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Cutting Machine Operators work in Tennessee?

BLS counts 5,380 Cutting Machine Operators jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).

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