Metalworking spans machining, cutting, welding, casting, forming, finishing, and related manufacturing services. The available U.S. data measures these activities through occupations, NAICS industries, workplace incidence rates, fatal-injury counts, and manufacturing subsector comparisons, so each figure below keeps its population, period, and definition explicit.
Key Metalworking Statistics
The following figures summarize the most useful measures in the available U.S. data:
- 1,545,990 jobs were held by metal and plastic workers in May 2025 in the United States, with a mean hourly wage of $25.83 and median annual wage of $53,730.
- 287,050 machinist jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $59,320.
- 416,210 welding, cutting, soldering, and brazing jobs existed in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $56,760.
- 56,930 tool and die maker jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $66,860.
- Metal and plastic machine workers had a $47,700 median annual wage in May 2025 in the United States.
- 272,050 machine-tool cutting setter, operator, and tender jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $49,050.
- 171,200 cutting, punching, and press-machine jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $48,430.
- 67,000 grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine-tool jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $48,170.
- 16,710 lathe and turning machine-tool jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $52,490.
- 12,460 milling and planing machine-worker jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $56,740.
- 202,050 CNC operator and programmer jobs were represented by May 2025 median-pay measures in the United States: $50,690 for operators and $68,120 for programmers.
- 31,600 welding, soldering, and brazing machine-operation jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $50,220.
- 21,340 metal furnace operator, tender, pourer, and caster jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $55,230.
- 163,270 molding and molding-machine jobs were recorded in May 2025 in the United States, with a median annual wage of $46,270.
- 2.9 total recordable cases occurred per 100 full-time workers in U.S. metalworking machinery manufacturing in 2023.
- 2.6 total recordable cases occurred per 100 full-time workers in U.S. machine shops in 2023.
- 4.0 total recordable cases occurred per 100 full-time workers in U.S. precision turned-product manufacturing in 2023.
- 2.9 total recordable cases occurred per 100 full-time workers in U.S. metal coating, engraving, and allied services in 2023.
- 11 fatal occupational injuries were recorded in other fabricated metal product manufacturing in 2023 in the United States.
- U.S. manufacturing value of shipments reached $365.3 billion in 2021 for the largest subsector highlighted in the Annual Survey of Manufactures summary.
Contents
- Metalworking employment and wage statistics
- Metalworking machine and cutting occupations
- Welding, casting, and forming data
- Metalworking workplace injury statistics
- Fabricated-metal and machine-shop safety trends
- Metalworking manufacturing scale and output
Metalworking Employment and Wage Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program provides the broadest employment snapshot here, but its main aggregate combines metal and plastic workers. In May 2025, that combined occupation group covered 1,545,990 U.S. jobs, a $25.83 mean hourly wage, and a $53,730 median annual wage; it should not be read as a metalworking-only labor total. BLS, Table 1, May 2025
More specific occupations show how pay varies across skilled metalworking roles:
| Occupation or group | U.S. jobs, May 2025 | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Machinists | 287,050 | $59,320 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers | 416,210 | $56,760 |
| Tool and die makers | 56,930 | $66,860 |
| Model makers in metal and plastic | 2,610 | $68,570 |
These are occupation estimates, not industry employment totals. The welding group also includes several joining and cutting occupations, while model makers combine metal and plastic work. BLS, Table 1, May 2025
For metal and plastic machine workers, the May 2025 median annual wage was $47,700. The lowest 10% earned below $36,020, while the highest 10% earned above $69,790, showing a broad distribution rather than a single typical outcome. BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Median annual pay for the same combined occupation differed by major employing industry in May 2025:
| Industry | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Machinery manufacturing | $50,210 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing | $49,760 |
| Primary metal manufacturing | $49,750 |
| Fabricated metal product manufacturing | $47,770 |
These industry figures describe wages for the combined metal-and-plastic machine-worker occupation, not total industry payroll or metalworking-only pay. BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Metalworking Machine and Cutting Statistics
Machine-tool and cutting occupations capture much of the production work associated with shaping metal, although many BLS categories also include plastic work. In May 2025, machine-tool cutting setters, operators, and tenders accounted for 272,050 U.S. jobs and a $49,050 median annual wage.
Cutting, punching, and press-machine setters, operators, and tenders accounted for 171,200 jobs and $48,430. BLS, Table 1, May 2025
The detailed machine-tool categories were:
- Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine-tool workers: 67,000 jobs and a $48,170 median annual wage in May 2025.
- Lathe and turning machine-tool workers: 16,710 jobs and a $52,490 median annual wage in May 2025.
- Milling and planing machine workers: 12,460 jobs and a $56,740 median annual wage in May 2025.
- Multiple machine-tool setters, operators, and tenders: 124,590 jobs and a $50,030 median annual wage in May 2025.
- Drilling and boring machine-tool workers: 4,680 jobs and a $51,810 median annual wage in May 2025.
All figures in this list are U.S. OEWS occupation estimates for May 2025, and the relevant categories include metal and plastic machine work. BLS, Table 1, May 2025
CNC work also has separate wage measures. Computer numerically controlled tool operators had a $50,690 median annual pay in May 2025, while CNC tool programmers had $68,120; these are occupation wage statistics, not measures of machine sales, output, or productivity. BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Welding, Casting, and Forming Data
Metalworking extends beyond subtractive machining into joining, melting, molding, heat treatment, and surface finishing. In May 2025, welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders numbered 31,600 U.S. jobs and had a $50,220 median annual wage; this machine-operation subgroup is distinct from the broader welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers group. BLS, Table 1, May 2025
| Role | U.S. jobs, May 2025 | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Metal furnace operators, tenders, pourers, and casters | 21,340 | $55,230 |
| Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders | 16,780 | $55,490 |
| Metal pourers and casters | 4,560 | $54,290 |
| Molders and molding-machine setters, operators, and tenders | 163,270 | $46,270 |
| Foundry mold and coremakers | 12,790 | $49,860 |
| Heat-treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders | 14,000 | $50,450 |
| Plating-machine setters, operators, and tenders | 32,410 | $45,100 |
The molders, heat-treating, and plating categories combine metal and plastic work where noted by BLS. Furnace and casting categories describe occupation groups rather than total foundry employment. BLS, Table 1, May 2025
Metalworking Workplace Injury Statistics
BLS industry incidence rates measure cases per 100 full-time workers, not unique injured workers or product-level risk. In 2023, U.S. metalworking machinery manufacturing, classified as NAICS 3335, recorded 2.9 total recordable cases per 100 full-time workers.
The rate was 1.3 for cases involving days away, job transfer, or restriction, including 0.8 days-away cases, 0.4 job-transfer-or-restriction cases, and 1.6 other-recordable cases. BLS, 2023 injury and illness rates
U.S. machine shops, NAICS 33271, recorded 2.6 total recordable cases per 100 full-time workers in 2023. The corresponding rates were 1.2 for days-away, job-transfer, or restriction cases; 0.9 for days-away cases; 0.3 for job-transfer-or-restriction cases; and 1.4 for other-recordable cases. BLS, 2023 injury and illness rates
The two industry measures are close in scope but are not interchangeable with occupational employment data. One describes an NAICS industry’s incidence rate, while the other describes jobs and wages in an occupation that may span multiple industries.
Fabricated-Metal and Machine-Shop Safety Trends
More detailed 2023 industry data shows variation within fabricated-metal activities. Precision turned-product manufacturing, NAICS 332721, recorded 4.0 total recordable cases per 100 full-time workers, including 2.5 cases involving days away, job transfer, or restriction and 1.8 days-away cases. BLS, 2023 injury and illness rates
Metal coating, engraving, and allied services, NAICS 332812, recorded 2.9 total recordable cases per 100 full-time workers in 2023. Its rate was 1.7 for days-away, job-transfer, or restriction cases and 1.0 for days-away cases; the industry includes coating and allied services as well as engraving. BLS, 2023 injury and illness rates
Fatal occupational injuries are reported as raw counts, not rates. In 2023, other fabricated metal product manufacturing recorded 11 fatal occupational injuries, metal coating, engraving, and allied services recorded 3, and small-arms ammunition manufacturing recorded 1.
These counts are industry-specific, and some BLS event cells are suppressed as dashes. BLS, Table A-1, 2023
Metalworking Manufacturing Scale and Output
The Annual Survey of Manufactures provides a broader manufacturing benchmark, but the cited comparison is not a metalworking-only estimate. Its 2021 summary identifies $365.3 billion in value of shipments for the largest manufacturing subsector highlighted in the PDF; the subsector label must remain attached because the figure is not total U.S. manufacturing. U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of Manufactures: 2021
The same 2021 comparison places leather and allied product manufacturing at $4.7 billion in value of shipments and $2.3 billion in cost of materials, the smallest subsector in that comparison. Apparel manufacturing recorded $9.4 billion in value of shipments and $4.2 billion in cost of materials, the second-lowest subsector values.
These figures provide cross-subsector context, not direct measures of metalworking output. U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of Manufactures: 2021
The Census Bureau’s 2023 Annual Integrated Economic Survey documentation describes a system for comprehensive revenue, expense, and asset data by NAICS, but it does not provide a numeric metalworking estimate in the supplied measures. U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Integrated Economic Survey: 2023