SOC 51-4021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 9 metro areas compared
At $51,150, median pay for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Pennsylvania tracks the national median of $47,720 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $51,150, median pay for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Pennsylvania tracks the national median of $47,720 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $45,660 and $60,370. The lowest tenth earn under $39,120, while the highest tenth earn more than $73,080.
Employment stands at 2,960, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 46 states with published data for this occupation, Pennsylvania ranks 7th by median wage. Pittsburgh leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $60,820. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 485th of 778 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,120 | −18.0% |
| 25th | $45,660 | −4.3% |
| Median (50th) | $51,150 | +7.2% |
| 75th | $60,370 | +26.5% |
| 90th | $73,080 | +53.1% |
| Mean | $54,770 | +14.8% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh | $60,820 | 520 | |
| 2 | Allentown | $57,370 | 150 | |
| 3 | Reading | $54,490 | 140 | |
| 4 | Harrisburg | $51,230 | 50 | |
| 5 | Scranton | $49,840 | 370 | |
| 6 | Philadelphia | $48,370 | 770 | |
| 7 | York | $47,220 | 160 | |
| 8 | Lancaster | $46,400 | 270 | |
| 9 | Erie | $41,430 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $51,150 goes as far as $52,408 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$51,150as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,408US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $51,150 a year, 7.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,120 to $73,080 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,960 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 7th of 46 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Pittsburgh, at $60,820.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage is $51,150, or $24.59 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $47,720, so pay in Pennsylvania is 7.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Pennsylvania earns more than $73,080 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,120 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Pittsburgh, at $60,820 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,960 jobs in this occupation in Pennsylvania. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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