Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$43,530
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$20.93
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$58,570
entry level starts ~$33,790
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 15,000 employed

How much do Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders make?

The median pay for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders in the United States is $43,530 per year — about $20.93 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $33,790, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $58,570.

That is $17,860 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders salary range by percentile

Half of all Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders earn between $37,310 and $49,320 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$33,790$16.25
25th percentile (early career)$37,310$17.94
50th percentile (median)$43,530$20.93
75th percentile (experienced)$49,320$23.71
90th percentile (top earners)$58,570$28.16

Highest-paying states for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Maine leads the country for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders pay at $64,610 a year, followed by Wisconsin ($54,290) and Oregon ($49,130). At the other end, Idaho posts the lowest median at $33,660 — a gap of $30,950 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Maine$64,610$31.06+48%
2Wisconsin$54,290$26.10+25%
3Oregon$49,130$23.62+13%
4North Dakota$48,240$23.19+11%
5Pennsylvania$48,000$23.08+10%

Workforce and education

About 15,000 people work as Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders in the United States. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders make in the United States?
The median Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders salary in the United States is $43,530 per year, or about $20.93 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $33,790, while the top 10% of earners make $58,570 or more.
How does Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders median of $43,530 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders the most?
Maine is the highest-paying state for Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders, with a median salary of $64,610 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders need?
For most positions, a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders work in the United States?
About 15,000 people were employed as Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.