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Blending machine setter: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$48,990median pay per year, or $23.55 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,790lowest 10% earn less
  2. $42,85025th percentile
  3. $48,990median
  4. $59,86075th percentile
  5. $70,200top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Mixing and blending machine setters, operators and tenders had a median pay of $48,990 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to decline 6.1% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-6.1%[2]
Openings per year
7,900[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do blending machine setters make?

BLS counts this work as Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. The median wage was $48,990 a year, or $23.55 an hour[1]. That means half the workers made more than this and half made less[1]. The average was $52,090 a year, or $25.04 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,790 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $42,850[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $59,860, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $70,200[3]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][9] $36,790 $17.69
25th percentile[3][9] $42,850 $20.60
Median[1] $48,990 $23.55
75th percentile[3][9] $59,860 $28.78
90th percentile[3][9] $70,200 $33.75

These figures cover full-time and part-time wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or bonuses outside regular production[10]. About 94,920 people held these jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Massachusetts had the highest median annual wage at $60,790[12]. Minnesota followed at $59,270, then Wyoming at $58,320[12]. Illinois had the most jobs at 10,240[13]. Texas (6,350) and California (5,730) came next[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA had the highest median at $75,790[14]. Duluth, MN-WI followed at $73,210, then Wausau, WI at $69,080[14]. The metro area with the most jobs was Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, with 6,550 jobs and a median of $50,230[15].

Show median pay in 49 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Massachusetts[12]$60,790420
Minnesota$59,2701,760
Wyoming$58,320210
New Jersey$57,8102,050
Maine$55,540220
Connecticut$53,830260
Washington$53,8002,270
Illinois$53,56010,240
Maryland$53,480770
New York$53,1704,340
Wisconsin$52,2003,380
New Hampshire$51,920310
Iowa$51,5702,310
Delaware$51,460130
West Virginia$51,020350
Kansas$50,7501,380
California$50,6405,730
Pennsylvania$50,5504,380
Oregon$50,4201,090
Missouri$50,3402,800
Virginia$49,9701,530
Alaska$49,74060
Nebraska$49,050940
South Dakota$49,000510
Colorado$48,520640
Kentucky$48,4901,660
Nevada$48,460650
Arizona$48,2801,400
North Dakota$48,000260
Tennessee$47,8401,610
South Carolina$47,7402,560
Ohio$47,7205,230
Indiana$47,6504,840
Rhode Island$47,610190
Louisiana$47,330570
Utah$47,1801,290
North Carolina$47,0203,400
Georgia$47,0003,420
Oklahoma$47,000960
Mississippi$46,4101,070
Alabama$46,0502,220
Florida$46,0003,550
Vermont$45,420280
Texas$45,3206,350
Idaho$44,690510
Arkansas$44,6501,100
Michigan$44,3103,040
Montana$38,410280
New Mexico$36,980340

How to become a blending machine setter

BLS lists this typical path[6]:

In an ONET survey of 19 workers, 80% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 12% said a post-secondary certificate and 6% said some college courses[16]. ONET describes the job as needing very little to some preparation[17]. The facts do not say how long the training lasts.

What blending machine setters do

They set up, run or tend machines that mix or blend materials such as chemicals, tobacco, liquids and color pigments[18]. Typical tasks include:

Job titles reported by workers include Blender, Mixer Operator and Batchmaker[20].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 6.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 97,300 to 91,400 jobs, a change of 5,900[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[21]. These counts include self-employed workers, who were 2.5% of the occupation in 2025[2][22]. BLS ties the decline to automated manufacturing, which needs fewer manual tasks from these workers[23].

BLS still expects about 7,900 openings a year on average[5]. Openings come from retirements and moves to other occupations as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.6% move to a different occupation[24].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is a little below the median for all occupations[1][4]. The entry path asks for a high school diploma and on-the-job training, with no prior experience[6]. Employment is projected to shrink while openings continue each year[2][5]. Pay differs by state[12]. The facts do not say how long training takes.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[25].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a blending machine setter make an hour?
The median was $23.55 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $25.04[1][7].
What education do you need to be a blending machine operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
Is blending machine setter work in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 6.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all occupations, with about 7,900 openings a year[2][21][5].
What is the highest paying state for blending machine setters?
Massachusetts had the highest median annual wage at $60,790[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the US was $48,990 per year and $23.55 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to decline 6.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 97,300 to 91,400 jobs (a change of -5,900). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 10th percentile $36,790, 25th percentile $42,850, 75th percentile $59,860, 90th percentile $70,200. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 7,900 openings for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders was $52,090 per year and $25.04 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 10th percentile $17.69, 25th percentile $20.60, 75th percentile $28.78, 90th percentile $33.75. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 94,920 people were employed as Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders jobs: Illinois 10,240; Texas 6,350; California 5,730; Ohio 5,230; Indiana 4,840. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $75,790; Duluth, MN-WI $73,210; Wausau, WI $69,080; Fayetteville, NC $67,500; Kenosha, WI $62,470; Joplin, MO-KS $62,460; Bakersfield-Delano, CA $62,390; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $61,310. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders jobs: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 6,550 (median $50,230); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,430 (median $56,780); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,080 (median $48,870); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,070 (median $45,320); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,550 (median $43,820); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,470 (median $47,180). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 51-9023.00 survey of workers (19 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 80%, Post-Secondary Certificate 12%, Some College Courses 6% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 51-9023.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 51-9023.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Batchmaker, Blender, Blending Technician (Blending Tech), Ink Blender, Issuing Operator, Machine Operator, Mixer, Mixer Operator. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections: 2.5% of Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: Productivity change - share decreases as automated manufacturing processes require fewer manual tasks to be performed by these workers. BLS Employment Projections
  24. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 3.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  25. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.