SOC 51-8099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Plant and System Operators, All Other — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Pennsylvania is $50,840 a year, trailing the national median of $62,470 by 18.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Pennsylvania is $50,840 a year, trailing the national median of $62,470 by 18.6%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $48,640 and $67,170. The lowest tenth earn under $42,350, while the highest tenth earn more than $79,350.
The area has 620 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Pennsylvania ranks number 40th out of 44 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Philadelphia records the highest median at $67,760. Of the 778 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 489th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,350 | −32.2% |
| 25th | $48,640 | −22.1% |
| Median (50th) | $50,840 | −18.6% |
| 75th | $67,170 | +7.5% |
| 90th | $79,350 | +27.0% |
| Mean | $59,280 | −5.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $67,760 | 170 | |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | $50,840 | 210 | |
| 3 | Allentown | $43,130 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $50,840 goes as far as $52,090 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,090US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,840 a year, 18.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $42,350 to $79,350 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 620 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 40th of 44 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Philadelphia, at $67,760.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Plant and System Operators, All Other in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage is $50,840, or $24.44 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 $62,470, so pay in Pennsylvania is 18.6% lower. 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 $79,350 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $42,350 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 Philadelphia, at $67,760 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 620 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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