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 California is $52,910/year ($25.44/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $49,849 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 71.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $53K get you in California?
About separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in California
Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $53K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 68.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary by metro in California
23 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo | $82K | +56% | 240 |
| Modesto | $74K | +39% | 1,000 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $66K | +25% | 220 |
| Napa | $64K | +21% | 1,400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $62K | +18% | 730 |
| Merced | $62K | +17% | 270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $62K | +16% | 970 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $61K | +16% | 690 |
| Visalia | $58K | +11% | 300 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $57K | +8% | 250 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $56K | +5% | 100 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $54K | +2% | 340 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $54K | +2% | 430 |
| Salinas | $52K | -1% | 150 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $52K | -2% | 350 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $51K | -4% | 310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $50K | -5% | 800 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $49K | -8% | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $48K | -9% | N/A |
| Chico | $48K | -10% | 80 |
| Fresno | $47K | -10% | 460 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $47K | -11% | 220 |
| El Centro | $45K | -15% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 23 metros
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Track separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California 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 California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 68.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,059/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 120% 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 California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $53K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders?
California pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), 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 California?
The median is $52,910 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,320, and experienced separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $83,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,591/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 68.8% 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 California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $49,849 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.