Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $59,900/year ($28.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $55,015 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 57.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $60K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria sits well above the national pay line for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $49K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,246/month, which is 56.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $51K | $48K |
| Richmond | $49K | $50K |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg | $56K | $59K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $47K | $48K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $32K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 56.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,714/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 83% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $60K here vs. $49K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $59,900 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,230, and experienced mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $77,670. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,969/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 56.6% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $55,015 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.