Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In South Carolina, extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $51,620 at the median, or about $24.82 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $55,404 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 37.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in South Carolina?
About extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in South Carolina
South Carolina sits well above the national pay line for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 36.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in South Carolina
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg | $51K | -1% | 110 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $51K | -1% | 730 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 36.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/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, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,122/month. At HUD’s $1,263/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 extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tender a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $52K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders?
South Carolina pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders make in South Carolina?
The median is $51,620 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,360, and experienced extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $72,860. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,487/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 36.2% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $55,404 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.