Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Punch Press Operators play a vital role in the manufacturing sector, operating machinery to create parts and components. The average salary for this position is $37,977 per year. However, salaries can significantly vary based on multiple factors like geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry of employment.
For instance, states such as California and Texas typically offer higher wages due to demand and cost of living adjustments. In addition, operators with more experience can see an increase in earnings, with seasoned professionals earning significantly more than entry-level positions.
Job opportunities in manufacturing continue to grow, and many employers offer training programs to help new operators develop necessary skills. Understanding these salary dynamics and exploring regional job openings can enhance your career prospects in this field.
Entry-level positions may start around $30,000 annually, while experienced operators can earn up to $50,000 or more, depending on their skills and the complexity of the machinery they handle.
Let Zippi find your next punch press operator job
Let Zippi find your next punch press operator job
The average punch press operator salary in Minnesota, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average punch press operator salary states are Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Alabama.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $45,639 | $21.94 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $44,193 | $21.25 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $43,472 | $20.90 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $43,128 | $20.73 |
| 6 | Vermont | $43,186 | $20.76 |
| 7 | Alaska | $43,561 | $20.94 |
| 8 | Kansas | $41,571 | $19.99 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $40,417 | $19.43 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $43,670 | $21.00 |
| 11 | Nevada | $43,601 | $20.96 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $39,430 | $18.96 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $43,202 | $20.77 |
| 14 | Delaware | $43,714 | $21.02 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $42,787 | $20.57 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $42,155 | $20.27 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $41,550 | $19.98 |
| 18 | Idaho | $41,630 | $20.01 |
| 19 | Michigan | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| 20 | Washington | $42,965 | $20.66 |
| 21 | Maine | $40,904 | $19.67 |
| 22 | Oregon | $41,438 | $19.92 |
| 23 | Montana | $41,510 | $19.96 |
| 24 | Colorado | $42,777 | $20.57 |
| 25 | Indiana | $38,315 | $18.42 |
| 26 | Ohio | $37,607 | $18.08 |
| 27 | Utah | $39,286 | $18.89 |
| 28 | Maryland | $42,583 | $20.47 |
| 29 | Illinois | $39,400 | $18.94 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $39,383 | $18.93 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $36,338 | $17.47 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $37,875 | $18.21 |
| 33 | New Jersey | $37,569 | $18.06 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $36,740 | $17.66 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $37,091 | $17.83 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $38,822 | $18.66 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $36,527 | $17.56 |
| 38 | Virginia | $39,619 | $19.05 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $36,497 | $17.55 |
| 40 | New York | $39,064 | $18.78 |
| 41 | Iowa | $36,094 | $17.35 |
| 42 | California | $39,113 | $18.80 |
| 43 | Georgia | $35,782 | $17.20 |
| 44 | Missouri | $36,353 | $17.48 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $35,534 | $17.08 |
| 46 | Alabama | $35,273 | $16.96 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $35,654 | $17.14 |
| 48 | New Mexico | $35,777 | $17.20 |
| 49 | Arizona | $33,278 | $16.00 |
| 50 | Texas | $31,275 | $15.04 |
| 51 | Florida | $32,729 | $15.74 |
The highest-paying cities for punch press operators are Brooklyn Park, MN, Stratford, CT, and Denver, CO.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooklyn Park, MN | $45,666 | $21.95 |
| 2 | Stratford, CT | $43,681 | $21.00 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $42,804 | $20.58 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $41,501 | $19.95 |
| 5 | Manitowoc, WI | $40,713 | $19.57 |
| 6 | Carpentersville, IL | $39,578 | $19.03 |
| 7 | Rochester, NY | $39,563 | $19.02 |
| 8 | Muskegon, MI | $39,485 | $18.98 |
| 9 | Ontario, CA | $38,764 | $18.64 |
| 10 | Cleveland, OH | $38,198 | $18.36 |
| 11 | Jacksonville, FL | $33,034 | $15.88 |
| 12 | Carrollton, TX | $31,430 | $15.11 |
A punch press operator's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $48,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $37,977 | $3,165 | $18 |
| 25th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of punch press operators are cut out operator, die press operator, and stamp press operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saw Operator | $32,319 | $2,693 | $15.54 | 58,465 |
| Set-Up Operator | $39,269 | $3,272 | $18.88 | 55,670 |
| Operator | $37,928 | $3,161 | $18.23 | 159,077 |
| Laser Operator | $34,813 | $2,901 | $16.74 | 56,479 |
| Machine Operator | $32,874 | $2,740 | $15.80 | 96,834 |
| Press Brake Operator | $36,359 | $3,030 | $17.48 | 57,264 |
Top companies hiring punch press operators now:
Punch press operator salaries at Fortune Brands Home & Security and Toro are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average punch press operator salary at companies like IDEX and Precision Castparts are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fortune Brands Home & Security | $49,252 | $23.68 |
| 2 | Toro | $48,653 | $23.39 |
| 3 | IDEX | $46,729 | $22.47 |
| 4 | Precision Castparts | $44,893 | $21.58 |
| 5 | GPAC | $43,601 | $20.96 |
| 6 | SPIROL | $43,440 | $20.88 |
| 7 | Regal Beloit | $42,543 | $20.45 |
| 8 | Orion Lighting | $42,293 | $20.33 |
| 9 | Master Lock | $42,021 | $20.20 |
| 10 | Tempel | $41,580 | $19.99 |
| 11 | Webster Industries | $41,134 | $19.78 |
| 12 | Broan | $40,528 | $19.48 |
| 13 | WestRock | $40,365 | $19.41 |
| 14 | Randall Mechanical | $39,714 | $19.09 |
| 15 | Hubbell | $39,547 | $19.01 |
| 16 | Monster Products | $39,490 | $18.99 |
| 17 | ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions - US | $39,461 | $18.97 |
| 18 | Allentown | $39,060 | $18.78 |
| 19 | QPS | $38,952 | $18.73 |
| 20 | Spectrum Brands | $38,931 | $18.72 |
The average punch press operator salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $43,262 | $20.80 |
| 2 | Automotive | $40,633 | $19.54 |
| 3 | Technology | $39,489 | $18.99 |
| 4 | Professional | $36,653 | $17.62 |
The average punch press operator salary has risen by $7,456 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average punch press operator earned $30,521 annually, but today, they earn $37,977 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for punch press operators over the last decade.
Compare punch press operator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare punch press operator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $38,000 | $18.26 | +3.7% |
| 2024 | $36,600 | $17.58 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $35,400 | $17.01 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $34,000 | $16.32 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | $33,200 | $15.98 | +3.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potential With Quanex | Punch Press Operator 2Nd Shift | Owatonna, MN | 06/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| Doherty Staffing Solutions | Punch Press Operator-1St. Shift | Woodbury, MN | 06/27/2025 | $39,653 |
| Advance Services | Punch Press Operator | Gilbert, AZ | 06/26/2025 | $43,827 |
| Aerotek | Punch Press Operator | Minneapolis, MN | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Quanex Building Products Corporation | Punch Press Operator 2Nd Shift | Owatonna, MN | 06/25/2025 | $52,175 |
| HTSS | Punch Press Operator | East Greenville, PA | 06/19/2025 | $45,914 |
| Senneca Holdings | Punch Press Operator | Woodbury, MN | 06/18/2025 | $41,740 |
| HTSS, Inc. | Punch Press Operator | East Greenville, PA | 06/17/2025 | $45,914 |
| Staffmark Group | Punch Press Operator | Corona, CA | 06/14/2025 | $45,914 |
| Phillips Temro Industries | Punch Press Operator, SR | Eden Prairie, MN | 06/13/2025 | $41,740 |
Search for punch press operator jobs