National Salary Info » Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

Highest Paying Industries for Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

The top 100 highest paying industries for metal workers and plastic workers (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $73,680, electric power generation, transmission and distribution is the highest paying industry for metal workers and plastic workers. It is followed by utilities industry (average annual salary $71,430). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of metal workers and plastic workers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 100 Highest Paying Industries for Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution	$73,680	$35,870	1,650
2	Utilities	$71,430	$37,780	2,660
3	Natural Gas Distribution	$68,200	$43,010	970
4	Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil	$66,580	$33,130	40
5	Beverage Manufacturing	$63,890	$26,140	710
6	Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing	$62,970	$25,260	770
7	Other Pipeline Transportation	$61,050	$29,380	30
8	Postal Service (federal government)	$58,020	$58,010	50
9	Coal Mining	$55,710	$33,330	1,300
10	Computer Systems Design and Related Services	$55,410	$29,890	560
11	Federal government, including USPS	$55,090	$43,900	9,040
12	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$55,030	$43,900	8,990
13	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$54,910	$33,610	1,010
14	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$54,900	$37,650	13,270
15	Federal, State, and Local Government	$54,900	$37,650	13,270
16	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$54,640	$30,470	15,630
17	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$54,610	$37,340	14,150
18	Hospitals - State government owned	$54,280	$32,640	30
19	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$54,060	$30,820	3,270
20	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	$53,900	$39,400	70
21	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$53,500	$30,340	3,560
22	Hospitals (including private, state, and local government hospitals)	$53,210	$34,670	90
23	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$52,950	$27,870	3,190
24	Scientific Research and Development Services	$52,950	$27,870	3,190
25	State government, including schools and hospitals	$52,660	$33,750	1,560
26	Rail Transportation	$52,500	$28,250	10,100
27	Spectator Sports	$52,400	$33,510	210
28	Utility System Construction	$51,820	$30,870	12,310
29	Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation	$51,580	$36,880	120
30	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$51,070	$31,730	220
31	General Medical and Surgical Hospitals - Privately owned	$50,750	$40,000	50
32	Hospitals - Privately owned	$50,750	$40,000	50
33	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$50,540	$33,490	730
34	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$50,340	$34,140	510
35	Educational Services - State government owned	$50,160	$34,110	520
36	Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing	$50,120	$35,340	140
37	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$50,020	$28,930	1,940
38	Water Transportation	$49,270	$33,810	200
39	Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$48,550	$30,730	16,080
40	Educational Services	$48,360	$31,110	1,080
41	Transportation and Warehousing	$48,230	$26,970	16,680
42	Metal Ore Mining	$47,910	$32,610	1,230
43	Mining (except Oil and Gas)	$47,490	$31,450	3,320
44	Newspaper Publishers	$47,370	$28,410	250
45	Educational Services - Privately owned	$46,810	$28,960	290
46	Educational Services - Local government owned	$46,250	$26,810	270
47	Pipeline Transportation	$46,220	$27,660	300
48	Elementary and Secondary Schools	$45,960	$26,690	240
49	Elementary and Secondary Schools - Local government owned	$45,920	$26,590	240
50	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$45,840	$27,110	55,900
51	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$45,820	$26,740	1,470
52	Nonresidential Building Construction	$45,620	$28,550	8,690
53	Mining	$45,530	$28,160	12,970
54	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors	$45,450	$30,990	4,590
55	Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors	$45,430	$26,950	670
56	Inland Water Transportation	$45,280	$31,180	80
57	Construction of Buildings	$45,150	$28,230	9,170
58	Support Activities for Mining	$45,150	$27,760	8,880
59	Publishing Industries (except Internet)	$45,120	$25,930	310
60	Facilities Support Services	$44,930	$31,250	250
61	Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers	$44,900	$25,750	300
62	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$44,860	$25,150	12,930
63	Engineering Services	$44,840	$26,240	6,040
64	Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing	$44,760	$26,240	350
65	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$44,400	$26,070	7,140
66	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$44,300	$27,900	420
67	Animal Food Manufacturing	$44,080	$23,430	n/a
68	Water, Sewage and Other Systems	$44,030	$26,890	50
69	Information	$44,000	$27,000	420
70	Ship and Boat Building	$43,920	$28,200	29,150
71	Dairy Product Manufacturing	$43,920	$30,230	230
72	Specialized Design Services	$43,780	$24,860	550
73	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$43,620	$28,620	980
74	Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction	$43,600	$28,330	1,110
75	Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$43,140	$31,570	2,380
76	Building Equipment Contractors	$42,990	$28,170	7,800
77	Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills	$42,880	$28,100	620
78	Construction	$42,860	$27,550	52,600
79	Support Activities for Air Transportation	$42,750	$28,570	1,320
80	Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing	$42,670	$26,340	30,320
81	Educational Support Services	$42,630	$31,790	n/a
82	Grain and Oilseed Milling	$42,370	$27,850	200
83	Junior Colleges (including private, state, and local government schools)	$41,930	$24,880	30
84	Lime and Gypsum Product Manufacturing	$41,810	$21,960	140
85	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	$41,720	$27,250	21,480
86	Other Food Manufacturing	$41,680	$23,870	130
87	Testing Laboratories	$41,570	$25,290	1,000
88	Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing	$41,430	$21,310	640
89	Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing	$41,410	$26,290	1,720
90	Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging	$41,320	$26,750	110
91	Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction	$41,260	$27,700	1,380
92	Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing	$41,170	$23,070	1,810
93	Other Specialty Trade Contractors	$41,070	$27,020	5,720
94	Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing	$41,060	$24,130	1,000
95	Rental and Leasing Services	$40,410	$26,400	1,910
96	Support Activities for Water Transportation	$40,230	$25,480	1,120
97	Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors	$40,200	$25,480	150
98	Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying	$40,160	$27,450	790
99	Sawmills and Wood Preservation	$40,140	$27,140	1,720
100	Business Support Services	$40,060	$26,560	n/a