Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Missouri make a median of $50,930 a year, or about $24.49 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $57,244 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 32.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Missouri?
About cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Missouri
Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $51K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,097/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Missouri
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin | $51K | +0% | 100 |
| St. Joseph | $51K | +0% | 60 |
| St. Louis | $50K | -2% | 490 |
| Kansas City | $50K | -2% | 270 |
| Springfield | $50K | -2% | 80 |
| Jefferson City | $46K | -9% | 70 |
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 Missouri 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 Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 31.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/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 Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,252/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $51K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Missouri pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Missouri?
The median is $50,930 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,530, and experienced cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $63,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,444/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 31.9% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $57,244 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.