SOC 51-4191 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Tennessee
Tennessee · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Tennessee is $54,930 per year, 12.7% above the national median of $48,750.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Tennessee is $54,930 per year, 12.7% above the national median of $48,750. Half of workers earn between $45,110 and $56,280. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $39,980 and the ninetieth at $59,210.
The area has 670 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. Tennessee ranks number 6th out of 37 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Chattanooga records the highest median at $57,800. Of the 730 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 366th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,980 | −18.0% |
| 25th | $45,110 | −7.5% |
| Median (50th) | $54,930 | +12.7% |
| 75th | $56,280 | +15.4% |
| 90th | $59,210 | +21.5% |
| Mean | $50,970 | +4.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga | $57,800 | 40 | |
| 2 | Nashville | $56,280 | 240 | |
| 3 | Knoxville | $40,940 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $54,930 goes as far as $59,771 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 22.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,930as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$59,771US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,930 a year, 12.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,980 to $59,210 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 670 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 6th of 37 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chattanooga, at $57,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $54,930, or $26.41 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 $48,750, so pay in Tennessee is 12.7% 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 Tennessee earns more than $59,210 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,980 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 Chattanooga, at $57,800 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 670 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. 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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