Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In Rapid City, SD, extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $38,970 at the median, or about $18.74 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.16), which stretches that salary to about $43,708 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,336/month, about 47.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K get you in Rapid City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Rapid City’s Regional Price Parity (89.16). 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, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Rapid City
Pay for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders in Rapid City runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,336/month, which is 48.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.16 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenderss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders in metros near Rapid City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $39K | $43K |
| Omaha | $46K | $50K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $50K | $48K |
| Lincoln | $62K | $68K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rapid City, SD
Entry-level extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | $58K | +27% | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $54K | +17% | 2,450 |
| Vermont | $52K | +14% | 160 |
| Minnesota | $52K | +14% | 560 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +13% | 2,460 |
| West Virginia | $51K | +11% | 180 |
| Nevada | $50K | +9% | N/A |
| Virginia | $49K | +8% | 1,810 |
| Iowa | $49K | +8% | 500 |
| Colorado | $49K | +7% | 280 |
| Utah | $49K | +7% | 250 |
| Nebraska | $49K | +7% | 750 |
| Oregon | $48K | +6% | 370 |
| Arkansas | $48K | +6% | 2,190 |
| New Hampshire | $48K | +4% | 410 |
| Missouri | $47K | +4% | 1,040 |
| Illinois | $47K | +4% | 1,690 |
| California | $47K | +3% | 4,210 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | +3% | 950 |
| New Jersey | $47K | +3% | 1,880 |
| Ohio | $47K | +3% | 3,970 |
| Indiana | $47K | +2% | 3,150 |
| Maryland | $47K | +2% | 280 |
| Mississippi | $47K | +2% | 660 |
| Arizona | $46K | +1% | 700 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | +1% | 1,730 |
| North Dakota | $46K | +1% | 270 |
| Connecticut | $46K | +1% | 240 |
| Georgia | $46K | -0% | 1,150 |
| New York | $45K | -2% | 3,260 |
| Washington | $45K | -3% | 750 |
| Kansas | $44K | -3% | 600 |
| Louisiana | $44K | -3% | 200 |
| South Dakota | $43K | -6% | 610 |
| North Carolina | $43K | -6% | 3,420 |
| Oklahoma | $42K | -8% | 1,310 |
| Tennessee | $42K | -8% | 4,210 |
| Florida | $40K | -13% | 780 |
| Michigan | $40K | -13% | 1,970 |
| Rhode Island | $39K | -14% | 80 |
| Alabama | $39K | -16% | 1,510 |
| Idaho | $39K | -16% | 210 |
| Texas | $38K | -18% | 3,420 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -20% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -21% | 1,690 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rapid City numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rapid City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 48.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,336/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Rapid City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,898/month. At HUD’s $1,336/month FMR, rent would take 70% 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 Rapid City?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $39K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Rapid City compare to the national average for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Rapid City pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Rapid City, SD?
The median is $38,970 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,640, and experienced extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $59,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Rapid City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,779/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,336/month, which eats 48.1% 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 Rapid City?
Rapid City has a Regional Price Parity of 89.16 (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 $43,708 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.