How much does a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender make?
The median cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender in the United States earns $43,530 per year, about $20.93 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 51-9192.
Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender salary range
Pay for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $33,790 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $58,570. The average (mean) wage of $44,600 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,790 | $16.25 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $37,310 | $17.94 | |
| Median (50th) | $43,530 | $20.93 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $49,320 | $23.71 | |
| 90th percentile | $58,570 | $28.16 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders (SOC 51-9192), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders earn the most in Maine at $64,610 a year, and the least in Idaho at $33,660. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | $64,610 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $54,290 | 310 |
| Oregon | $49,130 | 70 |
| North Dakota | $48,240 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,000 | 370 |
| New Hampshire | $47,510 | 120 |
| Iowa | $46,970 | 430 |
| New York | $46,290 | 710 |
| Nebraska | $45,690 | 400 |
| Washington | $45,600 | 180 |
| Ohio | $45,470 | 1,010 |
| Virginia | $45,330 | 140 |
| California | $45,150 | 2,450 |
| South Dakota | $44,770 | 60 |
| Michigan | $44,400 | 820 |
| Indiana | $43,820 | 830 |
| Illinois | $43,740 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $43,600 | 590 |
| Massachusetts | $43,210 | 380 |
| Minnesota | $42,600 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $41,110 | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $40,950 | 450 |
| Missouri | $40,510 | 200 |
| Utah | $39,970 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $39,240 | 320 |
| Connecticut | $39,140 | 170 |
| Georgia | $38,430 | 600 |
| Kansas | $38,340 | 50 |
| North Carolina | $38,340 | 260 |
| Arizona | $37,900 | 370 |
| Arkansas | $37,490 | 90 |
| Texas | $37,040 | 1,380 |
| Florida | $36,830 | 170 |
| Nevada | $36,490 | 110 |
| Kentucky | $35,850 | 310 |
| New Mexico | $35,600 | 60 |
| Alabama | $35,090 | 140 |
| Mississippi | $34,280 | 90 |
| Idaho | $33,660 | N/A |
State median wages for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders (SOC 51-9192), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders
The BLS projects employment of cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 16,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 16,800 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,700 openings a year for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender
The typical entry-level education for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender earns
Industry, shift, certifications, and region drive pay, along with overtime. Skilled operators and workers in unionized plants sit near the top of the range.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Maine, $64,610) and the lowest (Idaho, $33,660) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 14,760 people work as cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders in the United States. At $43,530 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender salary FAQ
How much does a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender is $20.93. The middle half of cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders earn between $17.94 and $23.71 per hour.
What is the highest cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders earn more than $58,570 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender make a year?
The median annual salary for a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender is $43,530. The average (mean) wage of $44,600 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender a well paid job?
At $43,530 a year, a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 14,760 people work as cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders in the United States.
Which state pays cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders the most?
Maine has the highest median salary for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders at $64,610 a year. Wisconsin ($54,290) and Oregon ($49,130) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender a good career?
Employment of cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders is projected to grow 3.4% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operator and tender?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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