Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
In Washington, extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $44,510 at the median, or about $21.4 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $43,633 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 57.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Washington?
About extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Washington
Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $45K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,830/month, which is 58.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Washington
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $43K | -3% | N/A |
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 Washington 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 Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 58.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,374/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 77% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $45K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Washington pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), 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 Washington?
The median is $44,510 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,560, and experienced extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $69,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,150/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 58.1% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $43,633 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.