Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in New Mexico is $36,980/year ($17.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $28K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $39,738 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,119/month, about 44.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $37K get you in New Mexico?
About mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Pay for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in New Mexico runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $49K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,119/month, which is 43.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (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 mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Mexico
Entry-level mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $28K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in New Mexico
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $37K | +0% | 170 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $37K, rent takes 43.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/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 New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $28K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,694/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 New Mexico?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $37K here vs. $49K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders?
New Mexico pays $37K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders make in New Mexico?
The median is $36,980 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $28,230, and experienced mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $63,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,578/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 43.4% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $39,738 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.