Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in Montana is $38,410/year ($18.47/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $39,598 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,129/month, about 43.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Montana?
About mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in Montana runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $49K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,129/month, which is 42.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in Montana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $39K | +2% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 42.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/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 mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,074/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Montana?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $38K here vs. $49K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Montana pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Montana?
The median is $38,410 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,570, and experienced mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $53,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,645/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 42.7% 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 mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $39,598 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.