Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Reading, PA
In Reading, PA, heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics earn $52,120 at the median — $25.06 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.06), that's roughly $53,699 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,575/month — about 45.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $52K get you in Reading?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Reading’s Regional Price Parity (97.06). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction.
About heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Reading, PA
Entry-level heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Heat Treating Equipment 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $64K | +35% | 140 |
| Oregon | $62K | +31% | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $55K | +17% | 190 |
| West Virginia | $55K | +16% | 60 |
| New York | $52K | +11% | 280 |
| Kentucky | $51K | +8% | 260 |
| Kansas | $51K | +7% | 80 |
| Arizona | $50K | +6% | 140 |
| New Hampshire | $50K | +6% | 60 |
| Iowa | $50K | +4% | 160 |
| Ohio | $49K | +4% | 1,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $49K | +4% | 1,410 |
| Virginia | $49K | +3% | 140 |
| Indiana | $49K | +2% | 990 |
| Mississippi | $48K | +2% | 100 |
| Michigan | $48K | +2% | 1,220 |
| California | $48K | +2% | 800 |
| Missouri | $48K | +1% | 320 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | +1% | 510 |
| Nebraska | $47K | -0% | 50 |
| Minnesota | $47K | -1% | 110 |
| Utah | $46K | -2% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $45K | -5% | 460 |
| New Jersey | $45K | -5% | 210 |
| Alabama | $45K | -6% | 150 |
| Texas | $44K | -7% | 1,940 |
| Florida | $44K | -8% | 180 |
| North Carolina | $44K | -8% | 350 |
| Illinois | $42K | -12% | 960 |
| Oklahoma | $41K | -13% | 140 |
| Georgia | $41K | -14% | 440 |
| Tennessee | $38K | -20% | 180 |
| Connecticut | $38K | -20% | 230 |
| Arkansas | $35K | -26% | 240 |
Showing 1–10 of 34 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Reading numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
How much do heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics make in Reading, PA?
The median is $52,120 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,430, and experienced heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics can clear $61,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Reading?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,526/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,575/month, which eats 44.7% 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 heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary go in Reading?
Reading has a Regional Price Parity of 97.06 (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 heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary is worth about $53,699 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do heat treating equipment 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.