Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Maine make a median of $49,200 a year, or about $23.65 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $58K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $50,358 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,281/month, about 37.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $49K get you in Maine?
About cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Maine
Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Maine tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,281/month, which is 38.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $58K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Maine
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewiston-Auburn | $52K | +5% | 50 |
| Portland-South Portland | $39K | -21% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 38.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,123/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tender a high-paying job in Maine?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Maine compare to the national average for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Maine pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Maine?
The median is $49,200 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,380, and experienced cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $57,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,289/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 38.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $50,358 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.