Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Pennsylvania
Metal and plastic heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders in Pennsylvania earned a median of $48,800 a year ($23.46 an hour) and a mean of $50,090 in May 2025. The median is about level with the U.S. median of $48,750, ranking 18th of 37 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $48,800
- Median hourly
- $23.46
- Mean annual
- $50,090
- Jobs on record
- 1,520
Grey needle: U.S. median, $48,750 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Pennsylvania compare on pay for metal and plastic heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders?
Pennsylvania ranks 18th of 37 states. Washington is highest at $61,990, $13,190 more than the Pennsylvania median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 16 | $49,280 | +1% | 250 |
| Wisconsin | 17 | $49,100 | +1% | 470 |
| Pennsylvania | 18 | $48,800 | +0% | 1,520 |
| Nebraska | 19 | $48,120 | -1% | 50 |
| Missouri | 20 | $47,980 | -2% | 140 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 37 states with a published figure. See every state.
Does Pennsylvania pay go further after prices?
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the U.S. average, so the $48,800 median buys about what $50,014 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $48,750 U.S. median. On this measure Pennsylvania ranks 21st of 37, down from 18th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Pennsylvania pay metal and plastic heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area is highest at $61,130, 25.3% above the Pennsylvania median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $61,130 | 60 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $58,890 | 210 |
| York-Hanover, PA | $57,290 | 40 |
| Reading, PA | $53,860 | 190 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,470 | 250 |
| Erie, PA | $48,120 | 90 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,150 | 50 |
| Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,700 | 110 |
| Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $39,560 | 430 |
| Lancaster, PA | not published | 40 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Pennsylvania is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many metal and plastic heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders work in Pennsylvania?
BLS counts 1,520 jobs in Pennsylvania, 10.9% of the 14,000 in the U.S. That is the largest count among the 36 states with a published figure. That is 0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, a location quotient of 2.78: the occupation's share of local jobs is 2.78 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Pennsylvania
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.