51 Series · SOC 51-9023

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$48,990
Median / year
+2.7%
2024→2025
$70,200
Top 10% earn
-6.8%
Growth '24–'34
94,920
Estimated US jobs

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median of $48,990 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $48,990, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $36,790 (10th percentile) to $70,200 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 94,920 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Massachusetts ($60,790).

51 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median of $48,990, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 30% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Production, it ranks #41 of 105 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 6.8% by 2034.

$48,990
Median annual wage
Top 70%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#41 of 105
in Production
1.9×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Massachusetts at $60,790. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders moved from $37,780 in May 2019 to $48,990 in May 2025 (+29.7%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits +5.2 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (SOC 51-9023) has a national median of $48,990 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $36,790 to $70,200, and the published mean is $52,090. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 94,920 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 50 state or territory areas and 361 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $47,680 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $48,990 in May 2025, a rise of $1,310 (+2.7%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -6.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 8,800 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Production Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Massachusetts pays the highest state median at $60,790, which is +24% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $75,790. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 94,920 jobs Median $48,990/yr

Median Salary

$48,990

per year

Median Hourly

$23.55/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$52,090

average

Employment

94,920

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$48,990 Bottom 30% higher than 30% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$48,990 · 30th percentile of 825 US occupations

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 51-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits on the slower-growing side at -6.8% growth and $48,990 median pay. Scatter plot of 23 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Miscellaneous Assemb… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.1% · Median annual wage: $44650First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1.2% · Median annual wage: $74450Welders, Cutters, So… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 2.2% · Median annual wage: $53750Packaging and Fillin… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.5% · Median annual wage: $43220Production Workers, … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.5% · Median annual wage: $40110Electrical, Electron… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.6% · Median annual wage: $45850Bakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.6% · Median annual wage: $37160Laundry and Dry-Clea… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.4% · Median annual wage: $34890Food Batchmakers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 6.9% · Median annual wage: $42290Cutting, Punching, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12.1% · Median annual wage: $46330Computer Numerically… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.7% · Median annual wage: $50690Helpers--Production … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.9% · Median annual wage: $39070Coating, Painting, a… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 0.7% · Median annual wage: $48250Molding, Coremaking,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.8% · Median annual wage: $44350Meat, Poultry, and F… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 5.5% · Median annual wage: $38300Printing Press Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -8.1% · Median annual wage: $45780Chemical Equipment O… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.3% · Median annual wage: $58040Butchers and Meat Cu… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $40140Water and Wastewater… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.5% · Median annual wage: $60020Multiple Machine Too… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.5% · Median annual wage: $47180Sewing Machine Opera… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.8% · Median annual wage: $36670Paper Goods Machine … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.3% · Median annual wage: $50270Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.8% · Median annual wage: $48990
Among 23 51-series occupations with growth data, Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits on the slower-growing side at -6.8% growth and $48,990 median pay.
Read the chart as text
  • Miscellaneous Assemb…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $44650
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.2%, Median annual wage $74450
  • Welders, Cutters, So…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.2%, Median annual wage $53750
  • Packaging and Fillin…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $43220
  • Production Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.5%, Median annual wage $40110
  • Electrical, Electron…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $45850
  • Bakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $37160
  • Laundry and Dry-Clea…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.4%, Median annual wage $34890
  • Food Batchmakers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.9%, Median annual wage $42290
  • Cutting, Punching, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.1%, Median annual wage $46330
  • Computer Numerically…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.7%, Median annual wage $50690
  • Helpers--Production …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.9%, Median annual wage $39070
  • Coating, Painting, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.7%, Median annual wage $48250
  • Molding, Coremaking,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.8%, Median annual wage $44350
  • Meat, Poultry, and F…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.5%, Median annual wage $38300
  • Printing Press Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -8.1%, Median annual wage $45780
  • Chemical Equipment O…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $58040
  • Butchers and Meat Cu…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $40140
  • Water and Wastewater…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.5%, Median annual wage $60020
  • Multiple Machine Too…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.5%, Median annual wage $47180
  • Sewing Machine Opera…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.8%, Median annual wage $36670
  • Paper Goods Machine …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.3%, Median annual wage $50270
  • Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.8%, Median annual wage $48990

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-6.8%

Declining

Annual Openings

8,800

per year (projected)

Employment Change

-6,800

101,100 (2024) → 94,300 (2034)

Typical Education

High school diploma or equivalent

On-the-Job Training

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
Group

Production Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

Fatality Rate

3.5/100K

Injury Rate

3.2/100

Danger Index

14.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.6
Operation and Control 3.6
Reading Comprehension 3.1
Critical Thinking 3.1
Monitoring 3.1
Equipment Maintenance 3.1
Troubleshooting 3.1
Repairing 3.1
Quality Control Analysis 3.1
Time Management 3.1

Knowledge Areas

Production and Processing 4.3
English Language 3.0
Mechanical 2.8
Public Safety and Security 2.7
Mathematics 2.6
Chemistry 2.6
Education and Training 2.4
Administration and Management 2.2
Law and Government 2.1
Personnel and Human Resources 2.0

Key Tasks

  • Weigh or measure materials, ingredients, or products to ensure conformance to requirements.
  • Read work orders to determine production specifications or information.
  • Observe production or monitor equipment to ensure safe and efficient operation.
  • Mix or blend ingredients by starting machines and mixing for specified times.
  • Stop mixing or blending machines when specified product qualities are obtained and open valves and start pumps to transfer mixtures.
  • Compound or process ingredients or dyes, according to formulas.
  • Examine materials, ingredients, or products visually or with hands to ensure conformance to established standards.
  • Operate or tend machines to mix or blend any of a wide variety of materials, such as spices, dough batter, tobacco, fruit juices, chemicals, livestock feed, food products, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
  • Dump or pour specified amounts of materials into machinery or equipment.
  • Record operational or production data on specified forms.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$36,790
25th$42,850
Median$48,990
75th$59,860
90th$70,200

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$17.69
25th$20.60
Median$23.55
75th$28.78
90th$33.75

Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$30,000$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $34,600National median - 2016: $35,680National median - 2017: $36,600National median - 2018: $37,210National median - 2019: $37,780National median - 2020: $38,690National median - 2021: $38,420National median - 2022: $43,410National median - 2023: $46,100National median - 2024: $47,680National median - 2025: $48,990$48,990
National median annual wage for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $34,600
2016 $35,680
2017 $36,600
2018 $37,210
2019 $37,780
2020 $38,690
2021 $38,420
2022 $43,410
2023 $46,100
2024 $47,680
2025 $48,990

2015 median

$34,600

2025 median

$48,990

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$11,210 (+29.7%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+4.4%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $34,600 First banked release 129,270
May 2016 $35,680 +3.1% 130,480
May 2017 $36,600 +2.6% 129,490
May 2018 $37,210 +1.7% 128,600
May 2019 $37,780 Classification break 125,340
May 2020 $38,690 +2.4% 116,190
May 2021 $38,420 -0.7% 108,440
May 2022 $43,410 +13.0% 108,900
May 2023 $46,100 +6.2% 105,740
May 2024 $47,680 +3.4% 100,840
May 2025 $48,990 +2.7% 94,920

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $34,600 in May 2015 to $48,990 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +4.4% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 125,340 in May 2019 to 94,920 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

View all 50 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Massachusetts $60,790 +24% above national
2 Minnesota $59,270 +21% above national
3 Wyoming $58,320 +19% above national
4 New Jersey $57,810 +18% above national
5 Maine $55,540 +13% above national
6 Connecticut $53,830 +10% above national
7 Washington $53,800 +10% above national
8 Illinois $53,560 +9% above national
9 Maryland $53,480 +9% above national
10 New York $53,170 +9% above national
11 Wisconsin $52,200 +7% above national
12 New Hampshire $51,920 +6% above national
13 Iowa $51,570 +5% above national
14 Delaware $51,460 +5% above national
15 West Virginia $51,020 +4% above national
16 Kansas $50,750 +4% above national
17 California $50,640 +3% above national
18 Pennsylvania $50,550 +3% above national
19 Oregon $50,420 +3% above national
20 Missouri $50,340 +3% above national
21 Virginia $49,970 +2% above national
22 Alaska $49,740 +2% above national
23 Nebraska $49,050 same as national
24 South Dakota $49,000 same as national
25 Colorado $48,520 1% below national
26 Kentucky $48,490 1% below national
27 Nevada $48,460 1% below national
28 Arizona $48,280 1% below national
29 North Dakota $48,000 2% below national
30 Tennessee $47,840 2% below national
31 South Carolina $47,740 3% below national
32 Ohio $47,720 3% below national
33 Indiana $47,650 3% below national
34 Rhode Island $47,610 3% below national
35 Louisiana $47,330 3% below national
36 Utah $47,180 4% below national
37 North Carolina $47,020 4% below national
38 Georgia $47,000 4% below national
39 Oklahoma $47,000 4% below national
40 Mississippi $46,410 5% below national
41 Alabama $46,050 6% below national
42 Florida $46,000 6% below national
43 Vermont $45,420 7% below national
44 Texas $45,320 7% below national
45 Idaho $44,690 9% below national
46 Arkansas $44,650 9% below national
47 Michigan $44,310 10% below national
48 Montana $38,410 22% below national
49 New Mexico $36,980 25% below national
50 Puerto Rico $31,410 36% below national

Salary by Metro Area

View all 257 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $75,790 +55% above national
2 Duluth, MN-WI $73,210 +49% above national
3 Wausau, WI $69,080 +41% above national
4 Fayetteville, NC $67,500 +38% above national
5 Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA $65,790 +34% above national
6 Wheeling, WV-OH $63,040 +29% above national
7 Kenosha, WI $62,470 +28% above national
8 Joplin, MO-KS $62,460 +27% above national
9 Bakersfield-Delano, CA $62,390 +27% above national
10 Eau Claire, WI $61,900 +26% above national
11 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $61,310 +25% above national
12 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $61,060 +25% above national
13 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $60,720 +24% above national
14 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $59,900 +22% above national
15 Springfield, IL $59,530 +22% above national
16 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $59,270 +21% above national
17 New Haven, CT $59,190 +21% above national
18 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $58,990 +20% above national
19 Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI $58,770 +20% above national
20 Kansas City, MO-KS $58,260 +19% above national
21 Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $58,140 +19% above national
22 Glens Falls, NY $58,000 +18% above national
23 Oshkosh-Neenah, WI $57,870 +18% above national
24 Tuscaloosa, AL $57,460 +17% above national
25 Paducah, KY-IL $57,350 +17% above national
26 Merced, CA $57,250 +17% above national
27 Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ $57,140 +17% above national
28 St. Cloud, MN $57,090 +17% above national
29 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $56,780 +16% above national
30 Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $56,460 +15% above national
31 Grand Island, NE $56,450 +15% above national
32 Decatur, AL $56,160 +15% above national
33 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $56,050 +14% above national
34 Amarillo, TX $55,970 +14% above national
35 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY $55,780 +14% above national
36 Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV $55,700 +14% above national
37 Manchester-Nashua, NH $55,460 +13% above national
38 Reading, PA $55,260 +13% above national
39 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $55,170 +13% above national
40 Appleton, WI $54,870 +12% above national
41 Albany, OR $54,500 +11% above national
42 Baton Rouge, LA $54,460 +11% above national
43 Lincoln, NE $54,420 +11% above national
44 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $54,220 +11% above national
45 Midland, TX $54,090 +10% above national
46 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $53,860 +10% above national
47 Canton-Massillon, OH $53,670 +10% above national
48 Asheville, NC $53,330 +9% above national
49 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $53,000 +8% above national
50 Longview-Kelso, WA $52,660 +7% above national
51 Cheyenne, WY $52,620 +7% above national
52 Odessa, TX $52,360 +7% above national
53 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL $52,290 +7% above national
54 Vineland, NJ $52,180 +7% above national
55 Ames, IA $52,020 +6% above national
56 Omaha, NE-IA $51,980 +6% above national
57 Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA $51,910 +6% above national
58 Peoria, IL $51,900 +6% above national
59 Green Bay, WI $51,800 +6% above national
60 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $51,790 +6% above national
61 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $51,760 +6% above national
62 Iowa City, IA $51,570 +5% above national
63 Salem, OR $51,540 +5% above national
64 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $51,460 +5% above national
65 Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA $51,430 +5% above national
66 Rockford, IL $51,400 +5% above national
67 Rochester, MN $51,270 +5% above national
68 Cedar Rapids, IA $51,230 +5% above national
69 Greensboro-High Point, NC $51,210 +5% above national
70 Madison, WI $51,210 +5% above national
71 Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ $51,170 +4% above national
72 Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY $51,140 +4% above national
73 Pittsburgh, PA $51,030 +4% above national
74 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $51,010 +4% above national
75 Rome, GA $50,980 +4% above national
76 Bend, OR $50,920 +4% above national
77 Charleston, WV $50,680 +3% above national
78 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $50,620 +3% above national
79 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $50,610 +3% above national
80 Mobile, AL $50,590 +3% above national
81 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $50,570 +3% above national
82 Lancaster, PA $50,560 +3% above national
83 Tulsa, OK $50,530 +3% above national
84 Columbia, SC $50,430 +3% above national
85 Wilmington, NC $50,390 +3% above national
86 St. Louis, MO-IL $50,360 +3% above national
87 Columbus, OH $50,350 +3% above national
88 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $50,340 +3% above national
89 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA $50,290 +3% above national
90 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $50,230 +3% above national
91 Roanoke, VA $50,220 +3% above national
92 Syracuse, NY $50,170 +2% above national
93 Springfield, MA $50,020 +2% above national
94 Tucson, AZ $50,020 +2% above national
95 Chattanooga, TN-GA $50,000 +2% above national
96 Utica-Rome, NY $50,000 +2% above national
97 Modesto, CA $49,960 +2% above national
98 Spartanburg, SC $49,910 +2% above national
99 Stockton-Lodi, CA $49,860 +2% above national
100 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $49,840 +2% above national
101 Portland-South Portland, ME $49,790 +2% above national
102 Sheboygan, WI $49,700 +1% above national
103 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $49,620 +1% above national
104 Trenton-Princeton, NJ $49,610 +1% above national
105 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $49,600 +1% above national
106 Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $49,520 +1% above national
107 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $49,480 +1% above national
108 Jonesboro, AR $49,440 +1% above national
109 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV $49,260 +1% above national
110 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA $49,180 same as national
111 Athens-Clarke County, GA $49,160 same as national
112 Chambersburg, PA $49,130 same as national
113 Morristown, TN $49,090 same as national
114 Binghamton, NY $49,050 same as national
115 Rochester, NY $49,020 same as national
116 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $49,000 same as national
117 Boulder, CO $48,970 same as national
118 Goldsboro, NC $48,940 same as national
119 Ogden, UT $48,940 same as national
120 Kankakee, IL $48,930 same as national
121 Richmond, VA $48,930 same as national
122 Fresno, CA $48,900 same as national
123 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $48,870 same as national
124 Champaign-Urbana, IL $48,790 same as national
125 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $48,690 1% below national
126 Visalia, CA $48,690 1% below national
127 Yakima, WA $48,640 1% below national
128 Jackson, TN $48,610 1% below national
129 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $48,610 1% below national
130 Akron, OH $48,580 1% below national
131 York-Hanover, PA $48,510 1% below national
132 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,500 1% below national
133 St. Joseph, MO-KS $48,440 1% below national
134 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $48,410 1% below national
135 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $48,380 1% below national
136 Waterbury-Shelton, CT $48,380 1% below national
137 Cleveland, OH $48,350 1% below national
138 Jacksonville, FL $48,340 1% below national
139 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $48,310 1% below national
140 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $48,290 1% below national
141 Bellingham, WA $48,280 1% below national
142 Montgomery, AL $48,190 2% below national
143 Greeley, CO $48,120 2% below national
144 Knoxville, TN $48,120 2% below national
145 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI $48,080 2% below national
146 Medford, OR $48,050 2% below national
147 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA $48,040 2% below national
148 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $48,030 2% below national
149 Fargo, ND-MN $48,000 2% below national
150 Wichita, KS $47,960 2% below national
151 Elkhart-Goshen, IN $47,920 2% below national
152 Kennewick-Richland, WA $47,730 3% below national
153 Lebanon, PA $47,710 3% below national
154 Evansville, IN $47,680 3% below national
155 Flint, MI $47,640 3% below national
156 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI $47,500 3% below national
157 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH $47,470 3% below national
158 Tallahassee, FL $47,410 3% below national
159 Williamsport, PA $47,380 3% below national
160 Port St. Lucie, FL $47,360 3% below national
161 Savannah, GA $47,350 3% below national
162 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $47,320 3% below national
163 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $47,280 3% below national
164 Naples-Marco Island, FL $47,250 4% below national
165 Altoona, PA $47,200 4% below national
166 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $47,180 4% below national
167 Janesville-Beloit, WI $47,040 4% below national
168 Sioux Falls, SD-MN $47,020 4% below national
169 Oklahoma City, OK $47,000 4% below national
170 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $47,000 4% below national
171 Rapid City, SD $46,850 4% below national
172 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $46,800 4% below national
173 Lawrence, KS $46,800 4% below national
174 Raleigh-Cary, NC $46,790 4% below national
175 Killeen-Temple, TX $46,780 5% below national
176 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $46,760 5% below national
177 Springfield, MO $46,760 5% below national
178 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $46,710 5% below national
179 Youngstown-Warren, OH $46,560 5% below national
180 Gettysburg, PA $46,550 5% below national
181 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $46,510 5% below national
182 Huntsville, AL $46,380 5% below national
183 Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $46,350 5% below national
184 Winchester, VA-WV $46,340 5% below national
185 Grand Junction, CO $46,320 5% below national
186 Eugene-Springfield, OR $46,300 5% below national
187 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $46,170 6% below national
188 Winston-Salem, NC $46,160 6% below national
189 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $46,140 6% below national
190 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $46,100 6% below national
191 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $46,080 6% below national
192 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $46,050 6% below national
193 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $46,000 6% below national
194 Reno, NV $45,850 6% below national
195 Columbus, GA-AL $45,830 6% below national
196 Longview, TX $45,770 7% below national
197 Mansfield, OH $45,610 7% below national
198 Toledo, OH $45,570 7% below national
199 Vallejo, CA $45,540 7% below national
200 Fort Wayne, IN $45,450 7% below national
201 Logan, UT-ID $45,440 7% below national
202 Burlington-South Burlington, VT $45,420 7% below national
203 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $45,320 7% below national
204 Sandusky, OH $45,260 8% below national
205 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $45,190 8% below national
206 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $45,160 8% below national
207 Erie, PA $45,110 8% below national
208 Jefferson City, MO $45,020 8% below national
209 Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ $45,020 8% below national
210 Lexington-Fayette, KY $44,920 8% below national
211 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $44,840 8% below national
212 Dalton, GA $44,820 9% below national
213 Owensboro, KY $44,820 9% below national
214 Terre Haute, IN $44,820 9% below national
215 Birmingham, AL $44,790 9% below national
216 Ocala, FL $44,740 9% below national
217 Lafayette, LA $44,530 9% below national
218 Twin Falls, ID $44,420 9% below national
219 Waco, TX $44,360 9% below national
220 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI $44,100 10% below national
221 Carson City, NV $44,040 10% below national
222 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $44,010 10% below national
223 Lima, OH $43,920 10% below national
224 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $43,820 11% below national
225 Idaho Falls, ID $43,740 11% below national
226 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC $43,590 11% below national
227 Fort Collins-Loveland, CO $43,260 12% below national
228 Michigan City-La Porte, IN $42,980 12% below national
229 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $42,770 13% below national
230 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $42,660 13% below national
231 Valdosta, GA $42,440 13% below national
232 Sherman-Denison, TX $42,420 13% below national
233 Salinas, CA $42,250 14% below national
234 Fort Smith, AR-OK $41,910 14% below national
235 Rocky Mount, NC $41,290 16% below national
236 Lansing-East Lansing, MI $40,480 17% below national
237 Gainesville, GA $40,360 18% below national
238 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL $40,130 18% below national
239 Boise City, ID $39,780 19% below national
240 Niles, MI $39,420 20% below national
241 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $39,310 20% below national
242 Billings, MT $39,150 20% below national
243 Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $38,890 21% below national
244 Tyler, TX $38,890 21% below national
245 Macon-Bibb County, GA $38,680 21% below national
246 Clarksville, TN-KY $38,310 22% below national
247 Jackson, MS $38,270 22% below national
248 El Paso, TX $38,120 22% below national
249 Burlington, NC $38,050 22% below national
250 Dothan, AL $37,770 23% below national
251 Lubbock, TX $37,370 24% below national
252 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $37,060 24% below national
253 Albuquerque, NM $36,980 25% below national
254 Anchorage, AK $35,290 28% below national
255 Ann Arbor, MI $35,150 28% below national
256 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $28,130 43% below national
257 Arecibo, PR $27,410 44% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 51 (Production Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 104 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Production Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($48,990 here) and reported employment (94,920 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?
The median annual salary for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $48,990 ($23.55/hour). The salary range spans from $36,790 at the 10th percentile to $70,200 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $48,990, Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay is higher than 30% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders the most?
Massachusetts pays the highest median salary for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders at $60,790/year, which is +24% above the national median.
What education do Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders need?
BLS assigns Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in this release. WageDex shows the Production Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders a good career?
Employment for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to decline 6.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 8,800 openings are projected each year.
How does Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay vary by state?
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Massachusetts at $60,790/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $31,410/year. BLS data covers 50 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA at $75,790/year. BLS reports a median for 257 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $59,860/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Massachusetts leads at $60,790/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.