SOC 51-9012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR-OK · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fort Smith, AR is $45,380 per year, 12.1% below the national median of $51,610.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fort Smith, AR is $45,380 per year, 12.1% below the national median of $51,610. Pay ranges from under $36,290 at the tenth percentile to more than $51,380 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $40,780 to $50,780.
The area has 40 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. Fayetteville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $47,510. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 152nd of 302 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,290 | −29.7% |
| 25th | $40,780 | −21.0% |
| Median (50th) | $45,380 | −12.1% |
| 75th | $50,780 | −1.6% |
| 90th | $51,380 | −0.4% |
| Mean | $46,370 | −10.2% |
Other metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville | $47,510 | 70 | |
| 2 | Little Rock | $45,490 | 70 | |
| 3 | Jonesboro | $43,160 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Fort Smith run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $45,380 goes as far as $52,221 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$45,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,221US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $45,380 a year, 12.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,290 to $51,380 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fayetteville, at $47,510.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Fort Smith, AR?
The median annual wage is $45,380, or $21.82 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $51,610, so pay in Fort Smith, AR is 12.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Fort Smith, AR earns more than $51,380 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,290 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fayetteville, at $47,510 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 40 jobs in this occupation in Fort Smith, AR. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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