Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In Louisiana, extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $44,200 at the median, or about $21.25 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $50,642 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 39.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Louisiana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $44K get you in Louisiana?
About extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $44K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,191/month, which is 39.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 39.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,884/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 63% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tender a high-paying job in Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $44K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Louisiana pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Louisiana?
The median is $44,200 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,400, and experienced extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $59,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,018/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 39.5% 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, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $50,642 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting 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.