SOC 51-9012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Altoona
Altoona, PA · 10 metro areas compared
At $49,350, median pay for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Altoona, PA tracks the national median of $51,610 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -4.3%
- Openings per year
- 5,400
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Altoona, PA.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
At $49,350, median pay for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Altoona, PA tracks the national median of $51,610 closely. Pay ranges from under $35,820 at the tenth percentile to more than $60,670 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $43,280 to $49,350.
Employment stands at 30, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Allentown records the highest median at $59,610. Of the 241 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 126th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,820 | −30.6% |
| 25th | $43,280 | −16.1% |
| Median (50th) | $49,350 | −4.4% |
| 75th | $49,350 | −4.4% |
| 90th | $60,670 | +17.6% |
| Mean | $46,970 | −9.0% |
Other metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allentown | $59,610 | 230 | |
| 2 | Reading | $53,890 | 130 | |
| 3 | Chambersburg | $52,300 | 40 | |
| 4 | Philadelphia | $51,030 | 680 | |
| 5 | Pittsburgh | $48,590 | 330 | |
| 6 | York | $48,390 | 110 | |
| 7 | Harrisburg | $46,900 | 120 | |
| 8 | Scranton | $46,380 | 100 | |
| 9 | Lancaster | $45,190 | 120 | |
| 10 | Erie | $35,530 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Altoona run 10.5% below the national average, so the median of $49,350 goes as far as $55,140 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$49,350as reported by BLSLocal price level
89.5US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,140US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $49,350 a year, 4.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,820 to $60,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Allentown, at $59,610.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Altoona, PA?
The median annual wage is $49,350, or $23.73 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 $51,610, so pay in Altoona, PA is 4.4% 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 Altoona, PA earns more than $60,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,820 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 Allentown, at $59,610 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Altoona, PA. 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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