Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,300 | $17.93 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Mean (average) | $52,840 | $25.40 |
| 90th percentile | $70,320 | $33.81 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 44 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $52,290 | $36,670 | $79,660 | 3,800 | 2.91 |
| Arizona | $49,160 | $37,300 | $58,270 | 1,190 | 0.59 |
| Arkansas | $48,630 | $35,870 | $61,770 | 2,060 | 2.55 |
| California | $48,730 | $37,450 | $65,210 | 5,570 | 0.49 |
| Colorado | $48,940 | $39,090 | $66,860 | 240 | 0.13 |
| Connecticut | $48,530 | $38,500 | $72,900 | 650 | 0.62 |
| Delaware | $48,110 | $35,480 | $62,130 | 160 | 0.55 |
| Florida | $48,910 | $37,390 | $74,990 | 1,360 | 0.22 |
| Georgia | $50,160 | $35,140 | $75,900 | 5,650 | 1.87 |
| Idaho | $57,950 | $50,930 | $89,760 | 480 | 0.9 |
| Illinois | $56,400 | $39,830 | $62,810 | 5,360 | 1.42 |
| Indiana | $48,780 | $36,070 | $60,800 | 2,580 | 1.31 |
| Iowa | $46,110 | $37,420 | $83,480 | 1,010 | 1.04 |
| Kansas | $45,840 | $35,920 | $55,360 | 420 | 0.47 |
| Kentucky | $58,050 | $46,450 | $76,610 | 2,670 | 2.16 |
| Louisiana | $58,230 | $44,480 | $79,730 | 1,150 | 0.96 |
| Maine | $61,780 | $47,310 | $83,340 | 740 | 1.88 |
| Maryland | $47,780 | $34,980 | $60,090 | 480 | 0.28 |
| Massachusetts | $48,840 | $38,600 | $65,220 | 1,920 | 0.85 |
| Michigan | $50,540 | $38,950 | $66,750 | 3,000 | 1.1 |
| Minnesota | $58,150 | $40,250 | $74,310 | 1,960 | 1.08 |
| Mississippi | $47,380 | $33,800 | $80,770 | 960 | 1.33 |
| Missouri | $47,560 | $37,370 | $59,400 | 1,540 | 0.85 |
| Nebraska | $47,980 | $37,070 | $55,600 | 300 | 0.48 |
| Nevada | $47,780 | $39,690 | $63,350 | 380 | 0.4 |
| New Hampshire | $50,200 | $39,630 | $68,890 | 230 | 0.54 |
| New Jersey | $45,950 | $35,330 | $62,920 | 3,210 | 1.21 |
| New Mexico | $53,930 | $34,080 | $72,340 | 100 | 0.18 |
| New York | $52,800 | $35,830 | $68,510 | 3,280 | 0.55 |
| North Carolina | $47,940 | $35,480 | $63,410 | 4,800 | 1.57 |
| Ohio | $47,450 | $38,570 | $60,680 | 4,640 | 1.35 |
| Oklahoma | $63,640 | $39,480 | $79,410 | 1,390 | 1.31 |
| Oregon | $56,810 | $46,300 | $83,640 | 680 | 0.56 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,780 | $37,910 | $70,000 | 7,410 | 1.98 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,530 | $21,840 | $55,670 | 240 | 0.41 |
| Rhode Island | $48,710 | $35,590 | $51,890 | 240 | 0.77 |
| South Carolina | $50,040 | $37,560 | $79,320 | 2,460 | 1.73 |
| South Dakota | $46,910 | $36,270 | $57,310 | 130 | 0.45 |
| Tennessee | $46,920 | $31,550 | $60,170 | 3,490 | 1.72 |
| Texas | $47,830 | $36,490 | $66,200 | 3,740 | 0.43 |
| Utah | $60,790 | $45,880 | $73,270 | 1,350 | 1.25 |
| Virginia | $49,900 | $36,950 | $78,210 | 2,370 | 0.93 |
| Washington | $59,410 | $44,640 | $74,410 | 2,170 | 0.99 |
| Wisconsin | $58,050 | $45,740 | $70,240 | 8,510 | 4.68 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 9,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
- Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.
- Start machines and move controls to regulate tension on pressure rolls, to synchronize speed of machine components, and to adjust temperatures of glue or paraffin.
- Disassemble machines to maintain, repair, or replace broken or worn parts, using hand or power tools.
Technology skills
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Objectif Lune PrintShop Mail
- Quark enterprise publishing software
- Virtual Systems Mail-Shop
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination.
Common job titles: Corrugator Operator, Cup Room Technician, Folder Machine Operator, Gluer Operator, Paper Cutter Operator, Paper Machine Backtender, Paper Machine Operator, Stitching Machine Operator.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make?
The national median annual wage for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders was $50,270 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,300 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $70,320. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders to change -3.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 9,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oklahoma ($63,640), Maine ($61,780), Utah ($60,790). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.