Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
The median pay for a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is $46,910/year ($22.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 109.9), so that salary is closer to $42,684 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $4,214/month — about 130.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $47K get you in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Santa Cruz-Watsonville’s Regional Price Parity (109.9). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Entry-level mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $38K 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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $59K | +23% | 2,170 |
| Wyoming | $58K | +21% | 210 |
| Washington | $54K | +13% | 2,110 |
| Wisconsin | $54K | +12% | 3,520 |
| Maine | $53K | +10% | 250 |
| Maryland | $52K | +8% | 1,230 |
| Minnesota | $51K | +8% | 1,480 |
| New Hampshire | $50K | +5% | 290 |
| Virginia | $50K | +5% | 2,000 |
| South Carolina | $50K | +5% | 2,860 |
| Oregon | $50K | +5% | 1,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $50K | +4% | 4,930 |
| New York | $49K | +4% | 4,550 |
| Louisiana | $49K | +3% | 760 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | +3% | 460 |
| Kentucky | $49K | +3% | 1,980 |
| Vermont | $49K | +3% | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $49K | +2% | 220 |
| Illinois | $48K | +2% | 7,900 |
| Nevada | $48K | +1% | 440 |
| Missouri | $48K | +1% | 2,460 |
| Indiana | $48K | +1% | 3,760 |
| California | $48K | +0% | 6,860 |
| Ohio | $48K | -0% | 5,840 |
| Kansas | $47K | -0% | 1,510 |
| North Dakota | $47K | -1% | 290 |
| West Virginia | $47K | -1% | 750 |
| Florida | $47K | -2% | 3,390 |
| Iowa | $46K | -3% | 2,320 |
| Arizona | $46K | -3% | 1,380 |
| Delaware | $46K | -3% | 160 |
| North Carolina | $46K | -3% | 4,020 |
| Connecticut | $46K | -3% | 400 |
| Georgia | $46K | -4% | 3,960 |
| Michigan | $46K | -4% | 3,080 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -4% | 2,180 |
| Alabama | $46K | -5% | 2,340 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -5% | 1,080 |
| Idaho | $45K | -5% | 760 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -6% | 1,240 |
| Utah | $45K | -6% | 1,630 |
| Mississippi | $44K | -7% | 1,030 |
| Nebraska | $44K | -7% | 930 |
| Texas | $42K | -11% | 9,150 |
| South Dakota | $42K | -13% | 380 |
| Montana | $38K | -21% | 180 |
| New Mexico | $36K | -24% | 460 |
| Alaska | $34K | -28% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
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
How much do mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median is $46,910 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,000, and experienced mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $75,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,219/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $4,214/month, which eats 130.9% 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a Regional Price Parity of 109.9 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $42,684 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.