Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders work in a production-focused role that combines hands-on mechanical activity with attention to detail and problem solving. National employment is 101,000, indicating a sizable existing workforce. The national median annual salary of $47,680 offers an established earning track for people interested in operating and overseeing mixing and blending machinery. This occupation values mechanical ability, fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, and being detail oriented. It also benefits from skills in science, mathematics, and computers and information technology, as well as leadership and communication abilities such as writing and reading. While projected employment growth is -6.8%, there are still 9,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. For individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent who want to work directly with equipment and processes, this career can provide consistent opportunities across multiple states and metro areas, with some regions offering notably higher median salaries and opportunity scores.
The national median annual salary for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders is $47,680. Pay varies by location, with some states and metro areas reporting higher median wages. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts reports a median salary of $60,790, New York $53,170, Washington $53,800, California $50,640, and Colorado $48,520. At the metro level, several areas stand out: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA shows a median salary of $60,720; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $59,900; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $56,780; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $59,270; and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $53,860. These figures suggest that location choices can significantly influence earning potential. Candidates who are geographically flexible can weigh salary differences alongside other factors such as opportunity scores and local employment levels when planning their careers.
Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders have national employment of 101,000, reflecting an established occupation within the broader production workforce. Projected employment growth is -6.8%, indicating a decline over the projection period. Even with this projected decrease, the occupation is expected to have 9,000 annual openings. These openings can come from various sources such as workers changing occupations, retiring, or leaving the labor force. The combination of a negative growth rate and ongoing openings means this role may see overall contraction in total employment, while still offering entry points for new workers. Individuals interested in this field should consider both the existing employment base and the projected decline when planning long-term career paths. Comparing opportunity scores and employment levels across states and metro areas can also help job seekers identify regions where this occupation remains more active and potentially easier to enter despite the negative growth projection.
Geography plays an important role in career planning for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders. Among states, California leads the opportunity score list at 67.38, with a median salary of $50,640 and employment of 5,730. Massachusetts and New York follow closely with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78 and higher median salaries of $60,790 and $53,170, respectively, though Massachusetts has relatively low employment of 420 compared with New York’s 4,340. Washington and Colorado also appear among the top states, with median salaries of $53,800 and $48,520 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ stand out with opportunity scores above 77. Several metros report median salaries around or just under $60,000, including San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV; and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH. These differences highlight how both salary and opportunity score can vary substantially between regions.
The typical education requirement for mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who complete secondary education and want to move directly into a technically oriented role. Despite the relatively modest formal education requirement, the skill profile is broad and multifaceted. Success in this field draws on mechanical skills, fine motor abilities, and physical strength and stamina. Being detail oriented is also important. Foundational academic abilities in science and mathematics support understanding of processes and measurements, while computers and information technology skills help with working around modern equipment and systems. Leadership, problem solving and decision making, and strong writing and reading skills contribute to coordinating tasks, following instructions, and documenting work. Together, these skills suggest that candidates should focus on building both hands-on mechanical capabilities and core literacy, numeracy, and technology comfort to remain competitive in this occupation.
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