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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $55,920/year ($26.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers.
So what does $56K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.6). 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 Durham-Chapel Hill
Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Durham-Chapel Hill tracks closely to the national median, $56K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 8% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,711/month, which is 46.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.6) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $50K | , |
| Asheville | $50K | , |
| Raleigh-Cary | $51K | , |
| Greensboro-High Point | $56K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $39K 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 Durham-Chapel Hill 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 46.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,196/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 78% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $56K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $55,920 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,600, and experienced separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $75,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,705/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 46.2% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill 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 $57,295 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.