SOC 519196

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.

National Median

$49,390

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$49,390

Entry Level (10th pct)

$36,610

Experienced (90th pct)

$68,640

Total Employed

96,950

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$36,610 - $43,520
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$43,520 - $59,220
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$59,220 - $68,640

Highest Paying Locations for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Cedar Rapids, IA

$80,910

+63.8% vs national

Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT

$75,790

+53.5% vs national

Longview-Kelso, WA

$66,600

+34.8% vs national

Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area

$62,710

+27.0% vs national

Louisiana

$62,690

+26.9% vs national

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Cedar Rapids, IA	$80,910	280
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$75,790	160
Longview-Kelso, WA	$66,600	630
Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area	$62,710	470
Louisiana	$62,690	930
Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area	$62,690	N/A
Oklahoma	$61,750	1,440
Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area	$61,570	280
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$61,020	220
Salem, OR	$60,740	60
West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area	$60,420	460
Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area	$59,920	320
Glens Falls, NY	$59,890	350
Green Bay, WI	$59,740	1,390
Tulsa, OK	$59,600	560
Wausau, WI	$59,600	420
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$59,300	690
Columbus, OH	$59,180	510
Utah	$59,100	920
Appleton, WI	$58,870	600
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$58,520	210
Syracuse, NY	$58,430	500
Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area	$58,400	240
Jacksonville, FL	$58,010	270
Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area	$57,840	780
Wisconsin	$57,760	6,930
Modesto, CA	$57,530	250
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$57,240	4,970
Oregon	$57,010	890
Illinois	$56,860	5,720
Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area	$56,820	280
Idaho	$56,300	500
Washington	$56,240	2,500
Minnesota	$55,790	1,950
Rockford, IL	$55,020	80
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	$54,300	1,210
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$54,230	1,200
Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area	$53,650	590
Kentucky	$53,650	2,310
Montgomery, AL	$52,660	200
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous)	$52,560	360
Yakima, WA	$52,400	210
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$52,180	220
South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area	$51,950	300
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	$51,880	260
New York	$51,860	3,390
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$51,790	540
South Carolina	$51,720	3,650
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$51,680	1,610
Connecticut	$51,530	690

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders?

The national median annual salary for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $49,390, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenderss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenderss is Cedar Rapids, IA, with a median salary of $80,910.

How much can an experienced Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?

Top-earning Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenderss (90th percentile) make $68,640 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.