SOC 51-4034 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 3 metro areas compared
In Pennsylvania the median wage for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $57,020 a year, which is 12.6% higher than the national figure of $50,620.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Pennsylvania the median wage for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic is $57,020 a year, which is 12.6% higher than the national figure of $50,620. Half of workers earn between $47,180 and $66,500. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $43,570 and the ninetieth at $66,500.
The area has 580 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 36 states with published data for this occupation, Pennsylvania ranks 8th by median wage. Pittsburgh leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $66,500. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 426th of 778 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,570 | −13.9% |
| 25th | $47,180 | −6.8% |
| Median (50th) | $57,020 | +12.6% |
| 75th | $66,500 | +31.4% |
| 90th | $66,500 | +31.4% |
| Mean | $56,350 | +11.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh | $66,500 | 220 | |
| 2 | Philadelphia | $49,940 | 110 | |
| 3 | Erie | $43,140 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $57,020 goes as far as $58,422 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 15.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$57,020as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$58,422US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $57,020 a year, 12.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,570 to $66,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 580 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 36 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Pittsburgh, at $66,500.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage is $57,020, or $27.41 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 $50,620, so pay in Pennsylvania is 12.6% 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 $66,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,570 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 $66,500 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 580 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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