National Salary Info » Miscellaneous Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

Highest Paying Industries for Miscellaneous Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

The top 100 highest paying industries for miscellaneous 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 $64,620, petroleum and coal products manufacturing is the highest paying industry for miscellaneous metal workers and plastic workers. It is followed by motor vehicle manufacturing industry (average annual salary $54,500). 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 miscellaneous metal workers and plastic workers in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

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

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing	$64,620	$37,210	40
2	Motor Vehicle Manufacturing	$54,500	$36,990	120
3	Federal government, including USPS	$52,320	$41,000	2,000
4	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$52,320	$41,000	2,000
5	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$51,220	$36,150	2,210
6	Federal, State, and Local Government	$51,220	$36,150	2,210
7	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$51,210	$36,140	2,220
8	Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing	$50,090	$28,060	3,390
9	Ship and Boat Building	$48,260	$29,940	5,950
10	Other Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing	$47,330	$40,210	40
11	Basic Chemical Manufacturing	$46,990	$31,340	50
12	Transportation and Warehousing	$45,170	$27,520	110
13	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$45,130	$27,520	12,560
14	Support Activities for Air Transportation	$43,790	$26,960	n/a
15	Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction	$43,750	$35,980	60
16	Support Activities for Transportation	$43,480	$28,220	n/a
17	Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers	$42,550	$30,250	n/a
18	Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing	$42,490	$24,980	110
19	Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries	$42,320	$27,920	n/a
20	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation	$42,130	$27,290	n/a
21	Sawmills and Wood Preservation	$41,780	$29,440	1,310
22	Paper Manufacturing	$41,740	$24,140	60
23	Converted Paper Product Manufacturing	$41,620	$23,670	60
24	Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing	$41,280	$24,710	1,790
25	Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing	$40,790	$26,360	30
26	Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing	$40,740	$27,160	500
27	Household Appliance Manufacturing	$40,560	$30,100	290
28	Wood Product Manufacturing	$40,240	$26,470	1,950
29	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$39,010	$18,980	200
30	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$38,920	$18,970	200
31	Wood Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop Manufacturing	$38,510	$27,270	40
32	Chemical Manufacturing	$38,470	$23,520	120
33	Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing	$38,100	$24,830	790
34	Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing	$37,890	$25,240	750
35	Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing	$37,470	$24,810	1,660
36	Lumber and Other Construction Materials Merchant Wholesalers	$36,830	$24,720	90
37	Construction	$36,730	$21,560	360
38	Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing	$36,610	$24,750	1,530
39	Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing	$36,460	$20,610	1,350
40	Primary Metal Manufacturing	$36,430	$22,600	8,270
41	Rubber Product Manufacturing	$36,400	$22,970	250
42	Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing	$36,370	$23,890	2,630
43	Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing	$36,340	$25,570	420
44	Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$36,280	$23,400	3,830
45	Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing	$36,250	$25,260	130
46	Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing	$36,030	$25,550	1,400
47	Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel	$36,010	$23,880	1,410
48	Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing	$35,960	$23,920	2,530
49	Industrial Machinery Manufacturing	$35,880	$23,480	640
50	Electrical Equipment Manufacturing	$35,700	$22,160	610
51	Machinery Manufacturing	$35,700	$23,980	6,980
52	Engineering Services	$35,550	$19,950	50
53	Metal and Mineral (except Petroleum) Merchant Wholesalers	$35,310	$25,900	300
54	Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing	$35,300	$22,520	750
55	Forging and Stamping	$35,150	$22,350	1,790
56	Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing	$35,100	$22,960	3,840
57	Other Wood Product Manufacturing	$34,880	$22,750	530
58	Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing	$34,560	$23,030	2,620
59	Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing	$34,560	$22,970	280
60	Specialty Trade Contractors	$34,470	$21,160	300
61	Mining	$34,250	$21,660	320
62	Manufacturing	$34,240	$21,690	87,090
63	Support Activities for Mining	$34,220	$21,640	320
64	Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods	$34,040	$24,750	60
65	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$33,960	$22,150	280
66	Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$33,950	$22,080	860
67	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$33,520	$23,390	140
68	Scientific Research and Development Services	$33,520	$23,390	140
69	Miscellaneous Manufacturing	$33,410	$21,600	1,430
70	Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers	$33,320	$24,450	60
71	Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services	$33,310	$20,520	130
72	Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing	$33,290	$22,660	3,810
73	Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing	$33,190	$22,370	730
74	Hardware Manufacturing	$33,180	$21,350	230
75	Other Specialty Trade Contractors	$33,100	$20,390	120
76	Plastics Product Manufacturing	$33,000	$22,640	3,570
77	Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing	$32,740	$21,580	1,610
78	Foundries	$32,620	$21,390	2,070
79	Health Care and Social Assistance	$32,410	$18,500	30
80	Building Equipment Contractors	$32,350	$21,020	120
81	Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing	$32,250	$20,860	560
82	Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing	$32,110	$21,330	3,590
83	Commercial and Industrial Machinery Equipment (except Auto and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance	$32,090	$19,940	1,170
84	Wholesale Trade	$32,020	$21,580	1,200
85	Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers	$31,950	$18,910	300
86	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods	$31,900	$21,430	1,120
87	Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing	$31,820	$18,890	1,340
88	Management of Companies and Enterprises	$31,760	$22,290	n/a
89	Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing	$31,760	$21,020	3,670
90	Repair and Maintenance	$31,590	$20,150	1,600
91	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$31,590	$20,150	1,600
92	Machine Shops	$31,520	$21,170	1,980
93	Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing	$31,260	$20,700	44,530
94	Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing	$31,010	$20,750	220
95	Boiler, Tank, and Shipping Container Manufacturing	$31,000	$21,120	1,010
96	Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing	$30,940	$20,780	2,670
97	Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance	$30,890	$20,470	330
98	Testing Laboratories	$30,850	$20,670	70
99	Automotive Repair and Maintenance	$30,750	$25,670	n/a
100	Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing	$30,210	$21,330	120