Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in Wausau, WI is $69,080/year ($33.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.65), which stretches that salary to about $74,560 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,147/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $69K get you in Wausau?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Wausau’s Regional Price Parity (92.65). 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 Wausau
Wausau sits well above the national pay line for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders, local pay runs about 41% higher than the U.S. median of $49K. Rent runs $1,147/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.65 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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 Wausau, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $49K | $51K |
| Green Bay | $52K | $56K |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $59K | $61K |
| Appleton | $55K | $59K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Wausau, WI
Entry-level mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $80K 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
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Frequently asked questions
Can a mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wausau?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 25.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,147/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 Wausau?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,891/month. At HUD’s $1,147/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Wausau?
Local pay is 41% above the national median — $69K here vs. $49K nationally.
How does Wausau compare to the national average for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Wausau pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s +41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.65), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Wausau, WI?
The median is $69,080 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,190, and experienced mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $80,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Wausau?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,531/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,147/month, which eats 25.3% 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 Wausau?
Wausau has a Regional Price Parity of 92.65 (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 $74,560 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.