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 Topeka, KS is $47,040/year ($22.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.82), which stretches that salary to about $52,961 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,057/month, about 32.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $47K actually covers in Topeka, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Topeka’s Regional Price Parity (88.82). 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 separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders
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What this looks like in Topeka
Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders pay in Topeka tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,057/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.82 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders in metros near Topeka, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $53K | $60K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $51K | , |
| St. Louis | $53K | $56K |
| Omaha | $47K | $51K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Topeka, KS
Entry-level separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $36K 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 |
| Maine | $57K | +11% | 430 |
| Minnesota | $57K | +11% | 1,810 |
| 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 with published data
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 annually. We'll email you when Topeka numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Topeka?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 33.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,057/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 Topeka?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,750/month. At HUD’s $1,057/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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 Topeka?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Topeka compare to the national average for separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders?
Topeka pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.82), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Topeka, KS?
The median is $47,040 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,590, and experienced separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders can clear $76,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Topeka?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,151/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,057/month, which eats 33.5% 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 Topeka?
Topeka has a Regional Price Parity of 88.82 (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 separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders salary is worth about $52,961 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.