Salary guide, May 2025
Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Production Workers, All Other in the United States was $40,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $36,030 and $49,010.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other
Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $31,200 | $36,030 | $40,110 | $49,010 | $61,530 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $17.32 | $19.29 | $23.56 | $29.58 |
BLS estimated 251,700 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $38,100 | $32,300 to $47,630 | 2,860 | 0.63 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $36,790 | $30,470 to $42,850 | 2,220 | 0.95 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,370 | $31,130 to $38,680 | 1,330 | 0.58 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $39,510 | $32,670 to $55,860 | 2,400 | 1.99 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $40,610 | $37,130 to $48,340 | 4,740 | 0.31 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $40,610 | $37,130 to $48,340 | 4,740 | 0.31 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $39,540 | $35,030 to $46,560 | 6,150 | 0.94 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $41,250 | $37,600 to $49,750 | 4,810 | 0.66 |
Rank every metro for Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter)
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels. Nested NAICS rows overlap; they are not independent samples and must not be added together. Identical source rows repeated at different publication levels appear once.
- Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (NAICS 324000)$58,900
- Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing (NAICS 312000)$51,710
- Paper Manufacturing (NAICS 322000)$50,430
- Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing (NAICS 335000)$49,800
- Primary Metal Manufacturing (NAICS 331000)$48,900
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing (NAICS 327000)$47,450
- Chemical Manufacturing (NAICS 325000)$46,580
- Machinery Manufacturing (NAICS 333000)$46,470
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (NAICS 334000)$46,470
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (NAICS 336000)$45,600
- Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (NAICS 332000)$45,440
- Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (NAICS 326000)$44,550
- Textile Product Mills (NAICS 314000)$43,560
- Printing and Related Support Activities (NAICS 323000)$42,540
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing (NAICS 339000)$42,190
Bars compare up to 15 non-overlapping 3-digit manufacturing subsectors with exact annual medians. More detailed scopes remain in the table, identified by code and publication level.
| NAICS / scope | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 · sector | Manufacturing | 121,680 | $37,240 | $45,600 | $54,890 |
| 311000 · 3-digit | Food Manufacturing | 15,310 | $36,200 | $41,680 | $50,710 |
| 336000 · 3-digit | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 14,200 | $36,940 | $45,600 | $51,560 |
| 326000 · 3-digit | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 10,490 | $37,960 | $44,550 | $50,150 |
| 332000 · 3-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 10,490 | $37,370 | $45,440 | $51,930 |
| 333000 · 3-digit | Machinery Manufacturing | 10,020 | $37,790 | $46,470 | $58,610 |
| 336300 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 8,790 | $36,030 | $40,240 | $46,950 |
| 326100 · 4-digit | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 8,420 | $37,220 | $43,720 | $48,740 |
| 339000 · 3-digit | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 7,940 | $34,770 | $42,190 | $51,100 |
| 325000 · 3-digit | Chemical Manufacturing | 7,690 | $38,340 | $46,580 | $56,710 |
| 327000 · 3-digit | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 7,130 | $39,820 | $47,450 | $56,130 |
| 3330A1 · 4-digit | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 6,580 | $38,100 | $47,300 | $56,820 |
| 322000 · 3-digit | Paper Manufacturing | 6,060 | $38,510 | $50,430 | $62,040 |
| 335000 · 3-digit | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 6,010 | $43,160 | $49,800 | $54,890 |
| 331000 · 3-digit | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 5,820 | $42,320 | $48,900 | $59,510 |
| 321000 · 3-digit | Wood Product Manufacturing | 5,630 | $34,680 | $39,360 | $48,850 |
| 339900 · 4-digit | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 5,500 | $35,030 | $40,910 | $49,540 |
| 322200 · 4-digit | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 4,140 | $36,980 | $46,690 | $56,040 |
| 334000 · 3-digit | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 3,830 | $41,350 | $46,470 | $53,510 |
| 3320A1 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 3,810 | $39,440 | $47,700 | $54,250 |
| 335900 · 4-digit | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 3,810 | $45,340 | $54,890 | $54,890 |
| 311600 · 4-digit | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 3,590 | $36,040 | $36,460 | $43,610 |
| 3250A1 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 3,200 | $36,680 | $45,580 | $55,840 |
| 3320A2 · 4-digit | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 3,190 | $39,940 | $47,040 | $56,020 |
| 337000 · 3-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 3,050 | $35,540 | $39,350 | $48,700 |
| 321900 · 4-digit | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 2,950 | $31,110 | $38,270 | $49,030 |
| 325400 · 4-digit | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 2,790 | $40,700 | $47,850 | $57,160 |
| 333600 · 4-digit | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 2,520 | $34,650 | $45,780 | $62,000 |
| 323000 · 3-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 2,490 | $37,530 | $42,540 | $46,230 |
| 323100 · 4-digit | Printing and Related Support Activities | 2,490 | $37,530 | $42,540 | $46,230 |
| 3370A1 · 4-digit | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 2,490 | $35,540 | $38,660 | $47,480 |
| 339100 · 4-digit | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 2,440 | $34,370 | $44,060 | $59,120 |
| 311900 · 4-digit | Other Food Manufacturing | 2,410 | $37,720 | $41,360 | $46,550 |
| 332800 · 4-digit | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 2,080 | $33,960 | $37,940 | $46,270 |
| 326200 · 4-digit | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 2,070 | $40,050 | $46,300 | $62,340 |
| 334400 · 4-digit | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 2,010 | $39,640 | $46,040 | $53,510 |
| 311400 · 4-digit | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 1,960 | $35,940 | $42,230 | $50,670 |
| 311200 · 4-digit | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 1,940 | $47,250 | $58,050 | $61,780 |
| 336400 · 4-digit | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 1,930 | $46,970 | $59,620 | $79,120 |
| 322100 · 4-digit | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 1,920 | $57,660 | $68,720 | $84,420 |
| 331100 · 4-digit | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 1,840 | $43,550 | $50,980 | $65,200 |
| 311800 · 4-digit | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 1,800 | $34,820 | $39,410 | $49,470 |
| 324000 · 3-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,710 | $44,600 | $58,900 | $66,420 |
| 324100 · 4-digit | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 1,710 | $44,600 | $58,900 | $66,420 |
| 3250A2 · 4-digit | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 1,700 | $37,870 | $44,590 | $54,900 |
| 321200 · 4-digit | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,690 | $38,170 | $45,740 | $50,450 |
| 311500 · 4-digit | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 1,500 | $48,450 | $55,190 | $63,540 |
| 331500 · 4-digit | Foundries | 1,490 | $36,200 | $47,900 | $56,810 |
| 332700 · 4-digit | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 1,420 | $35,270 | $39,420 | $50,660 |
| 335300 · 4-digit | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 1,400 | $38,550 | $48,520 | $56,690 |
| 334500 · 4-digit | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 1,310 | $42,890 | $47,480 | $60,980 |
| 312000 · 3-digit | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 1,230 | $42,590 | $51,710 | $65,420 |
| 331400 · 4-digit | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 1,210 | $44,630 | $49,990 | $59,510 |
| 332710 · 5-digit | Machine Shops | 1,170 | $35,260 | $39,350 | $48,970 |
| 312100 · 4-digit | Beverage Manufacturing | 1,130 | $41,190 | $51,710 | $63,430 |
| 313000 · 3-digit | Textile Mills | 1,080 | $35,350 | $38,690 | $44,880 |
| 311700 · 4-digit | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 990 | $28,620 | $28,620 | $29,890 |
| 321100 · 4-digit | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 980 | $32,260 | $38,060 | $41,790 |
| 336200 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 980 | $37,170 | $44,770 | $52,360 |
| 336600 · 4-digit | Ship and Boat Building | 940 | $44,620 | $50,570 | $62,390 |
| 336900 · 4-digit | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 890 | $44,480 | $50,270 | $63,070 |
| 331300 · 4-digit | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 800 | $39,610 | $46,700 | $57,420 |
| 333500 · 4-digit | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 710 | $39,600 | $44,730 | $52,460 |
| 335200 · 4-digit | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 710 | $43,160 | $46,170 | $47,020 |
| 311300 · 4-digit | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 680 | $37,440 | $45,600 | $50,930 |
| 336100 · 4-digit | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 570 | $39,900 | $58,420 | $74,340 |
| 337900 · 4-digit | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 570 | $40,150 | $51,970 | $57,640 |
| 313200 · 4-digit | Fabric Mills | 520 | $34,700 | $38,320 | $44,720 |
| 331200 · 4-digit | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 490 | $43,720 | $46,740 | $55,310 |
| 311100 · 4-digit | Animal Food Manufacturing | 440 | $34,830 | $36,080 | $46,360 |
| 313100 · 4-digit | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | 340 | $37,160 | $38,880 | $48,120 |
| 315000 · 3-digit | Apparel Manufacturing | 330 | $33,000 | $36,760 | $38,270 |
| 314100 · 4-digit | Textile Furnishings Mills | 250 | $33,330 | $40,850 | $45,280 |
| 332720 · 5-digit | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 250 | $35,270 | $42,770 | $52,800 |
| 313300 · 4-digit | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 220 | $35,330 | $38,800 | $44,420 |
| 334100 · 4-digit | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 220 | $24,660 | $46,470 | $46,470 |
| 333300 · 4-digit | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 200 | $40,190 | $48,470 | $60,670 |
| 315200 · 4-digit | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 180 | $33,330 | $37,160 | $40,790 |
| 315900 · 4-digit | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 120 | $34,810 | $36,760 | $40,320 |
| 312200 · 4-digit | Tobacco Manufacturing | 110 | $58,960 | $77,630 | $80,350 |
| 336500 · 4-digit | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 100 | $36,120 | $39,570 | $49,360 |
| 334600 · 4-digit | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media | 90 | $36,410 | $41,410 | $42,510 |
| 335100 · 4-digit | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 90 | $39,380 | $39,730 | $45,260 |
| 334200 · 4-digit | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 70 | $39,080 | $46,630 | $64,990 |
| 316100 · 4-digit | Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing | 50 | $37,450 | $43,850 | $45,720 |
| 315100 · 4-digit | Apparel Knitting Mills | 40 | $31,390 | $31,390 | $35,670 |
| 339910 · 5-digit | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 40 | $25,960 | $31,580 | $39,420 |
| 314000 · 3-digit | Textile Product Mills | Not published by BLS | $35,000 | $43,560 | $50,430 |
| 314900 · 4-digit | Other Textile Product Mills | Not published by BLS | $36,050 | $45,090 | $50,430 |
| 316000 · 3-digit | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $37,380 | $37,720 | $44,020 |
| 316900 · 4-digit | Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $33,590 | $37,720 | $37,720 |
| 334300 · 4-digit | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | Not published by BLS | $42,570 | $54,060 | $68,760 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter), write the straight-time rate separately from shift coverage and extra hours. OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. It includes base rate, guaranteed pay, commissions and production bonuses. It excludes overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits.
An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure. Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $35,080 | $38,820 | $47,550 |
| May 2025 | $36,030 | $40,110 | $49,010 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
What should you know about supervisory and worker occupations?
BLS publishes these as separate occupations. Pay for one is not a pay step for the other.
- Supervisor occupation: Production Supervisor pay (SOC 51-1011)
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
What should you know about a move that can hold up?
Someone working in operators from packaging and web-converting plants needs a clear reason to leave. Explain how your opening changes their responsibility for web converting on the actual slitting, laminating or finishing process. If the answer depends on authority over web converting on the actual slitting, laminating or finishing process that you cannot offer, that mismatch belongs in the conversation before an offer.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter)?
The median annual wage for Production Workers, All Other in the United States was $40,110 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $36,030 and $49,010. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $31,200. 90% earned less than $61,530.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) at a plant?
Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 251,700 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
Process Technician pay Injection Molding Technician pay Extrusion Technician pay Flexographic Press Operator pay Chemical Operator pay Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) pay ranked across all metros Open jobs Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) recruiting Check an offer for this role
- Process Technician pay
- Injection Molding Technician pay
- Extrusion Technician pay
- Flexographic Press Operator pay
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- Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) pay ranked across all metros
- Open jobs
- Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) recruiting
- Check an offer for this role
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Converting Operator role is mapped to SOC 51-9199, which encompasses all Production Workers, All Other. The national median salary as of May 2025 is $40,110. For Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $40,110; the May 2024 median is $38,820.
Their arithmetic difference is $1,290. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle band width for this classification is $12,980, derived from a P25 of $36,030 and a P75 of $49,010. Manufacturing Headhunters observes that because this SOC is a catch-all category, it does not isolate the specific technical skills required for operating slitters, laminators, bag machines, or die cutters.
National industry data provides sector-specific benchmarks for this occupation. Tobacco Manufacturing reports a median of $77,630, Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills reports $68,720, and Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing reports $59,620. These figures demonstrate that converting operations are subject to the wage standards of their respective host industries. For Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) in the United States, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded. The data is constrained to the OEWS reporting standards for all other production workers.
In the highest employment metros, the data shows distinct regional profiles. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, metro reports a median of $39,520 and a middle band width of $12,820. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, metro reports a median of $40,970 and a middle band width of $14,330. The location quotient for Los Angeles is 1.1, while Atlanta shows 2.29, reflecting the relative density of the aggregate occupation in those areas. These records confirm that the BLS grouping does not separate machine condition troubleshooting or process-specific converting experience. These medians reflect the total population of production workers under the catch-all code.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
For Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $40,110; the May 2024 median is $38,820. Their arithmetic difference is $1,290. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
Why is the role categorized under Production Workers, All Other?
BLS uses the catch-all SOC 51-9199 to group production tasks that lack a distinct occupational code. This means our role competes for talent within a very broad, non-specific market.
Are the industry-specific medians for converting operators reflective of local pay?
No, the industry figures provided are national medians and do not account for geographic cost-of-living differences. They should be used only as national industry benchmarks.
What can I conclude from the two release estimates?
For Converting Operator (slitter, laminator, bag machine, die cutter) in the United States, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $40,110; the May 2024 median is $38,820. Their arithmetic difference is $1,290. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
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