Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Texas
Metal and plastic heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders in Texas earned a median of $41,690 a year ($20.04 an hour) and a mean of $45,250 in May 2025. The median is 14.5% below the U.S. median of $48,750, ranking 34th of 37 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $41,690
- Median hourly
- $20.04
- Mean annual
- $45,250
- Jobs on record
- 1,450
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 Texas compare on pay for metal and plastic heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders?
Texas ranks 34th of 37 states. Washington is highest at $61,990, $20,300 more than the Texas median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 32 | $44,350 | -9% | 320 |
| Georgia | 33 | $44,050 | -10% | 250 |
| Texas | 34 | $41,690 | -14% | 1,450 |
| Minnesota | 35 | $41,100 | -16% | 90 |
| Arkansas | 36 | $37,590 | -23% | 200 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 37 states with a published figure. See every state.
Does Texas pay go further after prices?
Prices in Texas run 2.9% below the U.S. average, so the $41,690 median buys about what $42,954 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $48,750 U.S. median. On this measure Texas ranks 34th of 37, the same place it holds 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 Texas pay metal and plastic heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX is highest at $63,960, 53.4% above the Texas median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $63,960 | 50 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $48,060 | 200 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $47,550 | 700 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $36,510 | 40 |
| North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $26,710 | 70 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Texas 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 Texas?
BLS counts 1,450 jobs in Texas, 10.4% of the 14,000 in the U.S. That is the 2nd largest count among the 36 states with a published figure. That is 0.10 of every 1,000 jobs in Texas, a location quotient of 1.14: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.14 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 Texas
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.