Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders pay range in Reading
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,290 or more. The middle half of chemical equipment operators and tenders in Reading earn between $42,440 and $61,090.
- $38K10th
- $42K25th
- $49KMedian
- $61K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,660 | $4,388 | $25.32 |
| Median | $49,070 | $4,089 | $23.59 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,440 | $3,537 | $20.40 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,090 | $5,091 | $29.37 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders pay in Reading vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Chemical equipment operators and tenders in Reading earn 9% less than the Pennsylvania average ($58,170) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($60,710). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $58,040.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | $52,660 | $49,070 | $38,280 | $69,290 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,170 | $56,630 | $38,710 | $81,840 | 6,230 |
| United States | $60,710 | $58,040 | $37,440 | $92,250 | 139,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders salary after taxes in Reading
On the average salary of $52,660, a single filer in Reading takes home about $42,876 a year, or $3,573 a month and $1,649 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Reading a good place for chemical equipment operators and tenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Reading area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.1), so the average $52,660 buys what about $54,255 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Reading ($49,440). A typical home costs $312,348, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Reading ranks 6th of 8 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Philadelphia pays the most ($62,100).
- Philadelphia$62,100
- Allentown$59,370
- Lancaster$58,570
- Pittsburgh$57,430
- Harrisburg$53,770
- Reading$52,660
- York$49,570
- Scranton$48,150
All Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders salaries in Pennsylvania
Highest-paying cities for chemical equipment operators and tenders
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($89,350).
- Baton Rouge, LA$89,350
- Decatur, AL$83,730
- New Orleans, LA$83,100
- Beaumont, TX$82,810
- Mobile, AL$80,750
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders salary in Reading: questions
How much do chemical equipment operators and tenders make an hour in Reading?
$25.32 an hour on average, and $23.59 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemical equipment operators and tenders salary in Reading?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemical equipment operators and tenders take-home pay in Reading?
About $42,876 a year ($3,573 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,660. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do chemical equipment operators and tenders earn more in Reading than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($60,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-9011; area Reading, PA (39740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.57, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.