Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a patternmakers, metal and plastic in Pennsylvania is $54,150/year ($26.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $57,018 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 37.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in Pennsylvania?
About patternmakers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Patternmakers, metal and plastic pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 36.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level patternmakers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic salary by metro in Pennsylvania
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $55K | +2% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track patternmakers, metal and plastic salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a patternmakers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 36.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for patternmakers, metal and plastics in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new patternmakers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,713/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 50% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is patternmakers, metal and plastic a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for patternmakers, metal and plastics?
Pennsylvania pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do patternmakers, metal and plastics make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $54,150 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,220, and experienced patternmakers, metal and plastics can clear $75,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,657/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 36.9% 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 patternmakers, metal and plastic salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 patternmakers, metal and plastic salary is worth about $57,018 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do patternmakers, 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.