Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$68,250
- Oregon$62,960
- Colorado$59,870
- Virginia$58,760
- Massachusetts$57,430
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Louisiana$37,400
- Arkansas$40,810
- Texas$45,250
- Minnesota$45,770
- South Carolina$46,770
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $68,250 | $61,990 | $33 | +35.3% | 140 |
| 2 | Oregon | $62,960 | $60,280 | $30 | +24.8% | 240 |
| 3 | Colorado | $59,870 | $58,300 | $29 | +18.7% | 100 |
| 4 | Virginia | $58,760 | $55,070 | $28 | +16.5% | 190 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $57,430 | $49,280 | $28 | +13.8% | 250 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $54,920 | $52,250 | $26 | +8.9% | 90 |
| 7 | Ohio | $54,860 | $52,880 | $26 | +8.7% | 1,040 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $54,350 | $51,680 | $26 | +7.7% | 120 |
| 9 | California | $54,080 | $50,150 | $26 | +7.2% | 770 |
| 10 | Kansas | $53,800 | $47,500 | $26 | +6.6% | 50 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $53,140 | $56,880 | $26 | +5.3% | 70 |
| 12 | New York | $53,020 | $52,940 | $25 | +5.1% | 280 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $52,230 | $49,100 | $25 | +3.5% | 470 |
| 14 | Arizona | $52,190 | $50,660 | $25 | +3.4% | 160 |
| 15 | Michigan | $52,150 | $50,560 | $25 | +3.4% | 1,190 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $51,710 | $49,640 | $25 | +2.5% | 440 |
| 17 | Alabama | $51,200 | $46,920 | $25 | +1.5% | 170 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $50,970 | $54,930 | $25 | +1% | 670 |
| 19 | Maine | $50,160 | $45,590 | $24 | -0.6% | 40 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $50,090 | $48,800 | $24 | -0.7% | 1,520 |
| 21 | Missouri | $49,830 | $47,980 | $24 | -1.2% | 140 |
| 22 | Iowa | $49,640 | $49,760 | $24 | -1.6% | 120 |
| 23 | Mississippi | $48,780 | $46,630 | $23 | -3.3% | 80 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $48,740 | $47,090 | $23 | -3.4% | 340 |
| 25 | Florida | $48,560 | $47,370 | $23 | -3.7% | 150 |
| 26 | Utah | $48,250 | $47,860 | $23 | -4.4% | 90 |
| 27 | Illinois | $48,160 | $45,340 | $23 | -4.5% | 850 |
| 28 | Georgia | $47,230 | $44,050 | $23 | -6.4% | 250 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $47,200 | $44,350 | $23 | -6.4% | 320 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $47,120 | $46,660 | $23 | -6.6% | 320 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $47,110 | $48,120 | $23 | -6.6% | 50 |
| 32 | Indiana | $47,070 | $46,860 | $23 | -6.7% | 990 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $46,770 | $46,750 | $22 | -7.3% | 290 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $45,770 | $41,100 | $22 | -9.3% | 90 |
| 35 | Texas | $45,250 | $41,690 | $22 | -10.3% | 1,450 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $40,810 | $37,590 | $20 | -19.1% | 200 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $37,400 | $35,180 | $18 | -25.9% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 91 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $67,070 | $62,640 | 170 |
| 2 | Oklahoma City, OK | $65,640 | $61,810 | 40 |
| 3 | Albany, OR | $64,210 | $65,720 | 40 |
| 4 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $63,960 | $65,670 | 50 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $62,530 | $60,300 | 40 |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $61,990 | $72,030 | 110 |
| 7 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $61,130 | $56,240 | 60 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $61,050 | $60,080 | 30 |
| 9 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $60,340 | $61,140 | 40 |
| 10 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $60,190 | $54,750 | 60 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastics (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specialty Trade Contractors | $83,780 | $81,580 | 50 |
| 2 | Building Equipment Contractors | $83,780 | $81,580 | 50 |
| 3 | Sector 23 - Construction | $83,780 | $81,200 | 50 |
| 4 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $71,320 | $72,530 | 50 |
| 5 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $71,320 | $72,530 | 50 |
| 6 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $71,320 | $72,530 | 50 |
| 7 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $71,320 | $72,530 | 50 |
| 8 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $71,320 | $72,530 | 50 |
| 9 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | $61,130 | $55,500 | 240 |
| 10 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | $57,550 | $61,800 | 140 |
| 11 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $57,140 | $61,380 | 940 |
| 12 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | $56,580 | $55,680 | 300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make in the U.S.?
The median heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in the United States is $48,750 per year (mean $50,450), and about 80% earn between $35,180 and $66,350.
How much do heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make per hour?
Roughly $24 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $50,450 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic at $68,250 per year (median $61,990).
What is the job outlook for heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic?
Employment is projected to change -12.8% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 1,200 openings per year.