Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Ames, IA
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Ames, IA make a median of $59,540 a year, or about $28.62 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.83), which stretches that salary to about $67,027 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 29.5% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $60K get you in Ames?
About cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K.Top earners bring in $60K or more - a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $56K | +23% | 1,330 |
| Illinois | $52K | +15% | 1,390 |
| Iowa | $52K | +14% | 880 |
| New Hampshire | $52K | +14% | 110 |
| Wisconsin | $51K | +11% | 1,620 |
| Missouri | $50K | +10% | 1,210 |
| Maine | $49K | +7% | 230 |
| Oregon | $49K | +7% | 900 |
| Washington | $48K | +6% | 980 |
| Nevada | $48K | +5% | 280 |
| Mississippi | $48K | +5% | 510 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | +4% | 1,720 |
| Idaho | $47K | +3% | 100 |
| North Dakota | $47K | +3% | 60 |
| New York | $47K | +3% | 2,160 |
Track cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Ames, IA?
The median is $59,540 a year - that works out to about $28.62 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,500, and experienced cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $60,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,909/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 29.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Ames?
Ames has a Regional Price Parity of 88.83 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $67,027 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.