Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders in the U.S. is $48,990 ($23.55 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $48,990
- Mean annual wage
- $52,090
- Median hourly wage
- $23.55
- Employment
- 94,920
94,920 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| 25th percentile | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| Median (50th) | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| 75th percentile | $59,860 | $28.78 |
| 90th percentile | $70,200 | $33.75 |
Highest-paying states for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $60,790 | 420 |
| Minnesota | $59,270 | 1,760 |
| Wyoming | $58,320 | 210 |
| New Jersey | $57,810 | 2,050 |
| Maine | $55,540 | 220 |
| Connecticut | $53,830 | 260 |
| Washington | $53,800 | 2,270 |
| Illinois | $53,560 | 10,240 |
| Maryland | $53,480 | 770 |
| New York | $53,170 | 4,340 |
Lowest-paying states
- New Mexico: $36,980 median annual wage
- Montana: $38,410 median annual wage
- Michigan: $44,310 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $44,650 median annual wage
- Idaho: $44,690 median annual wage
About this occupation
Set up, operate, or tend machines to mix or blend materials, such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids, color pigments, or explosive ingredients.
Typical tasks
- Compound or process ingredients or dyes, according to formulas.
- 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.
- Mix or blend ingredients by starting machines and mixing for specified times.
- Transfer materials, supplies, or products between work areas, using moving equipment or hand tools.
- Examine materials, ingredients, or products visually or with hands to ensure conformance to established standards.
- Dislodge and clear jammed materials or other items from machinery or equipment, using hand tools.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 16.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.2% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.9% |
| Associate's degree | 7.9% |
| Bachelor's degree | 7.7% |
| Master's degree | 0.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,650
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$74,450
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,750
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,220
- Machinists$58,750
- Production Workers, All Other$40,110
- Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$45,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.