Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In Texas, extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $37,710 at the median, or about $18.13 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $41,218 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 52.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Texas?
About extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Texas
Pay for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders in Texas runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 52.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Texas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $40K | +5% | 1,130 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $38K | +2% | 620 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $36K | -4% | 540 |
| Longview | $35K | -7% | 50 |
| El Paso | $31K | -18% | 50 |
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 Texas 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 Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 52.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,972/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $38K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Texas pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Texas?
The median is $37,710 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,860, and experienced extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $54,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,695/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 52.5% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $41,218 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.