Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Erie, PA
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastics in Erie, PA make a median of $47,370 a year, or about $22.77 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.95), which stretches that salary to about $52,084 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,212/month — about 36.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Erie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Erie’s Regional Price Parity (90.95). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Erie, PA
Entry-level forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $64K | +29% | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | +23% | 250 |
| Kentucky | $60K | +21% | 860 |
| Nebraska | $59K | +19% | 190 |
| California | $58K | +17% | 480 |
| Oklahoma | $56K | +14% | N/A |
| New York | $53K | +8% | 160 |
| Virginia | $53K | +8% | 310 |
| Oregon | $52K | +6% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $52K | +5% | 80 |
| Arkansas | $52K | +5% | 180 |
| Michigan | $51K | +3% | 780 |
| Kansas | $51K | +3% | 130 |
| Ohio | $50K | +2% | 680 |
| Nevada | $50K | +1% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $50K | +1% | 530 |
| South Carolina | $48K | -2% | 130 |
| Missouri | $48K | -2% | 100 |
| Illinois | $48K | -3% | 320 |
| Alabama | $47K | -5% | N/A |
| Indiana | $46K | -6% | 280 |
| South Dakota | $45K | -8% | 40 |
| Iowa | $45K | -8% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $44K | -11% | 220 |
| Georgia | $42K | -14% | 210 |
| Maine | $42K | -16% | N/A |
| Florida | $39K | -20% | 150 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -25% | 80 |
| Texas | $37K | -25% | 610 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -27% | 660 |
Showing 1–10 of 30 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
How much do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Erie, PA?
The median is $47,370 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,040, and experienced forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $61,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Erie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,221/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,212/month, which eats 37.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Erie?
Erie has a Regional Price Parity of 90.95 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $52,084 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do forging machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.