Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The median pay for a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA is $46,430/year ($22.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers.
So what does $46K get you in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford’s Regional Price Parity (92.7). 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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What this looks like in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford
Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,271/month, which is 41% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.7 (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 separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders in metros near Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | $49K | , |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $76K | , |
| Richmond | $56K | , |
| Charlottesville | $56K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA
Entry-level separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $109K | +111% | 410 |
| Nevada | $63K | +22% | 270 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | +17% | 590 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | +16% | 1,520 |
| Virginia | $59K | +15% | 2,130 |
| North Dakota | $59K | +15% | 270 |
| Kentucky | $59K | +14% | 1,500 |
| Louisiana | $59K | +14% | 770 |
| New Jersey | $58K | +13% | 930 |
| Arizona | $58K | +12% | 970 |
| Minnesota | $57K | +11% | 1,810 |
| Maine | $57K | +11% | 430 |
| Washington | $56K | +9% | 1,560 |
| New York | $56K | +8% | 3,490 |
| Maryland | $56K | +8% | 580 |
| Georgia | $56K | +8% | 1,210 |
| Indiana | $54K | +5% | 1,510 |
| Vermont | $54K | +4% | 230 |
| California | $53K | +3% | 14,210 |
| Iowa | $52K | +1% | 1,090 |
| Idaho | $52K | +1% | 780 |
| Hawaii | $51K | -1% | 160 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -2% | 270 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -2% | 2,450 |
| Connecticut | $50K | -2% | 310 |
| Oregon | $50K | -3% | 1,340 |
| Florida | $50K | -4% | 1,150 |
| Colorado | $50K | -4% | 1,970 |
| Michigan | $49K | -4% | 2,230 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -4% | 260 |
| South Carolina | $49K | -4% | 470 |
| Missouri | $49K | -4% | 1,590 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -5% | 1,310 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | -5% | 510 |
| Kansas | $49K | -5% | 450 |
| Illinois | $48K | -6% | 780 |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -6% | 2,150 |
| Alaska | $48K | -7% | 100 |
| Montana | $48K | -7% | 340 |
| Ohio | $48K | -8% | 1,470 |
| Delaware | $48K | -8% | 110 |
| Nebraska | $47K | -9% | 1,050 |
| Alabama | $47K | -9% | 140 |
| Texas | $47K | -9% | 1,460 |
| Rhode Island | $47K | -9% | 140 |
| Utah | $47K | -10% | 480 |
| Mississippi | $44K | -15% | 100 |
| Arkansas | $42K | -19% | 500 |
| New Mexico | $41K | -20% | 370 |
| West Virginia | $36K | -30% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 41% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,271/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,271/month FMR, rent would take 68% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tender a high-paying job in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford compare to the national average for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA?
The median is $46,430 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $65,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,099/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,271/month, which eats 41% 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 separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary go in Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford?
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $50,086 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still 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.