Machine Feeders and Offbearers Salary
The median pay for a machine feeders and offbearers in Tennessee is $40,400/year ($19.42/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $44,999 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 41.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Tennessee?
About machine feeders and offbearers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Machine feeders and offbearers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $40K locally vs. $41K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 42.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level machine feeders and offbearers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Machine Feeders and Offbearers salary by metro in Tennessee
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $49K | +22% | 170 |
| Knoxville | $39K | -5% | 70 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $35K | -12% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track machine feeders and offbearers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a machine feeders and offbearer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 42.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 machine feeders and offbearers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new machine feeders and offbearers typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,727/month. At HUD’s $1,215/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 machine feeders and offbearer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $41K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for machine feeders and offbearers?
Tennessee pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $41K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do machine feeders and offbearers make in Tennessee?
The median is $40,400 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,790, and experienced machine feeders and offbearers can clear $50,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,875/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 42.3% 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 machine feeders and offbearers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 machine feeders and offbearers salary is worth about $44,999 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do machine feeders and offbearers 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.