Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers Salary
In Chattanooga, TN-GA, extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers earn $48,900 at the median, or about $23.51 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $53,466 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,390/month, about 39.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Chattanooga?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chattanooga’s Regional Price Parity (91.46). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers
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What this looks like in Chattanooga
Extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers pay in Chattanooga tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,390/month, which is 40.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol | $72K | $83K |
| Dalton | $46K | $51K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $59K | $59K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $40K | $41K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chattanooga, TN-GA
Entry-level extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | $61K | +33% | 380 |
| Alabama | $60K | +30% | 930 |
| Indiana | $57K | +23% | 390 |
| Pennsylvania | $56K | +21% | 490 |
| Minnesota | $53K | +13% | 410 |
| Maryland | $51K | +10% | N/A |
| Kansas | $50K | +9% | 320 |
| Michigan | $49K | +6% | 180 |
| Missouri | $49K | +5% | 70 |
| Iowa | $48K | +4% | 100 |
| Arkansas | $48K | +3% | 90 |
| Texas | $47K | +1% | 520 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -0% | 320 |
| Georgia | $45K | -2% | 2,530 |
| California | $45K | -2% | 330 |
| New York | $44K | -5% | 210 |
| Florida | $44K | -6% | 620 |
| South Carolina | $43K | -6% | 1,080 |
| Wisconsin | $42K | -9% | 180 |
| Virginia | $41K | -12% | 540 |
| North Carolina | $40K | -14% | 1,980 |
| Utah | $39K | -17% | 100 |
| Nebraska | $38K | -19% | 50 |
| Kentucky | $33K | -28% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 24 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chattanooga numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fiber afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 40.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,390/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 extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,185/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 64% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fiber a high-paying job in Chattanooga?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers?
Chattanooga pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $48,900 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,420, and experienced extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers can clear $66,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,444/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 40.4% 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 extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers salary go in Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has a Regional Price Parity of 91.46 (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 extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers salary is worth about $53,466 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers 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.