Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in Duluth, MN-WI is $73,210/year ($35.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.77), which stretches that salary to about $82,472 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,232/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $73K get you in Duluth?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Duluth’s Regional Price Parity (88.77). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Duluth
Duluth sits well above the national pay line for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 49% higher than the U.S. median of $49K. Rent runs $1,232/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.77 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in metros near Duluth, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $61K | $58K |
| St. Cloud | $57K | $65K |
| Rochester | $51K | $56K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $49K | $51K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Duluth, MN-WI
Entry-level mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $61K | +24% | 420 |
| Minnesota | $59K | +21% | 1,760 |
| Wyoming | $58K | +19% | 210 |
| New Jersey | $58K | +18% | 2,050 |
| Maine | $56K | +13% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $54K | +10% | 260 |
| Washington | $54K | +10% | 2,270 |
| Illinois | $54K | +9% | 10,240 |
| Maryland | $53K | +9% | 770 |
| New York | $53K | +9% | 4,340 |
| Wisconsin | $52K | +7% | 3,380 |
| New Hampshire | $52K | +6% | 310 |
| Iowa | $52K | +5% | 2,310 |
| Delaware | $51K | +5% | 130 |
| West Virginia | $51K | +4% | 350 |
| Kansas | $51K | +4% | 1,380 |
| California | $51K | +3% | 5,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | +3% | 4,380 |
| Oregon | $50K | +3% | 1,090 |
| Missouri | $50K | +3% | 2,800 |
| Virginia | $50K | +2% | 1,530 |
| Alaska | $50K | +2% | 60 |
| Nebraska | $49K | +0% | 940 |
| South Dakota | $49K | +0% | 510 |
| Colorado | $49K | -1% | 640 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -1% | 1,660 |
| Nevada | $48K | -1% | 650 |
| Arizona | $48K | -1% | 1,400 |
| North Dakota | $48K | -2% | 260 |
| Tennessee | $48K | -2% | 1,610 |
| South Carolina | $48K | -3% | 2,560 |
| Ohio | $48K | -3% | 5,230 |
| Indiana | $48K | -3% | 4,840 |
| Rhode Island | $48K | -3% | 190 |
| Louisiana | $47K | -3% | 570 |
| Utah | $47K | -4% | 1,290 |
| North Carolina | $47K | -4% | 3,400 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -4% | 960 |
| Georgia | $47K | -4% | 3,420 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -5% | 1,070 |
| Alabama | $46K | -6% | 2,220 |
| Florida | $46K | -6% | 3,550 |
| Vermont | $45K | -7% | 280 |
| Texas | $45K | -7% | 6,350 |
| Idaho | $45K | -9% | 510 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -9% | 1,100 |
| Michigan | $44K | -10% | 3,040 |
| Montana | $38K | -22% | 280 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -25% | 340 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Duluth?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 26.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,232/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in Duluth?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,490/month. At HUD’s $1,232/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tender a high-paying job in Duluth?
Local pay is 49% above the national median — $73K here vs. $49K nationally.
How does Duluth compare to the national average for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Duluth pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s +49%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Duluth, MN-WI?
The median is $73,210 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,160, and experienced mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $74,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Duluth?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,695/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,232/month, which eats 26.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Duluth?
Duluth has a Regional Price Parity of 88.77 (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 mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $82,472 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mixing and blending 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.