SOC 51-9196 · May 2025 · United States
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders across the United States is $50,270 per year, measured over 96,130 jobs. The highest state median is in Oklahoma, at $63,640.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -6.3%
- Openings per year
- 8,100
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Pay for this occupation varies by 38.8% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Oklahoma pays $63,640 and Kansas pays $45,840.
States with the most Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wisconsin | 8,510 | $58,050 | |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 7,410 | $51,780 | |
| 3 | Georgia | 5,650 | $50,160 | |
| 4 | California | 5,570 | $48,730 | |
| 5 | Illinois | 5,360 | $56,400 | |
| 6 | North Carolina | 4,800 | $47,940 | |
| 7 | Ohio | 4,640 | $47,450 | |
| 8 | Alabama | 3,800 | $52,290 | |
| 9 | Texas | 3,740 | $47,830 | |
| 10 | Tennessee | 3,490 | $46,920 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids | $83,470 | 260 |
| 2 | Pittsfield | $65,190 | 190 |
| 3 | Terre Haute | $65,110 | 40 |
| 4 | Seattle | $64,020 | 460 |
| 5 | Albany | $63,800 | 80 |
| 6 | Glens Falls | $61,830 | 340 |
| 7 | Wausau | $61,070 | 430 |
| 8 | Provo | $60,440 | 150 |
| 9 | Hartford | $59,980 | 240 |
| 10 | Longview | $59,770 | 590 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 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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