Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders Salary
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders in South Carolina make a median of $40,000 a year, or about $19.23 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $42,932 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 46.3% 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 $40K get you in South Carolina?
About food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders in South Carolina runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $45K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 45.6% 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $45K | +13% | N/A |
| Columbia | $36K | -9% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Production & Manufacturing
Frequently asked questions
Can a food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 45.6% 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 $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,029/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tender a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $40K here vs. $45K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders?
South Carolina pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $45K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders make in South Carolina?
The median is $40,000 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,810, and experienced food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders can clear $50,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,770/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 45.6% 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 food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine 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 food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders salary is worth about $42,932 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine 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.