SOC 51-9196 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg, MS · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Hattiesburg, MS is $44,450 a year, trailing the national median of $50,270 by 11.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Hattiesburg, MS is $44,450 a year, trailing the national median of $50,270 by 11.6%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $41,130 and $51,000. The lowest tenth earn under $33,800, while the highest tenth earn more than $60,460.
The area has 220 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 5.67 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Jackson records the highest median at $47,210. Of the 239 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 128th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $33,800 | −32.8% |
| 25th | $41,130 | −18.2% |
| Median (50th) | $44,450 | −11.6% |
| 75th | $51,000 | +1.5% |
| 90th | $60,460 | +20.3% |
| Mean | $45,890 | −8.7% |
Other metro areas in Mississippi
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson | $47,210 | 150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hattiesburg run 13.0% below the national average, so the median of $44,450 goes as far as $51,092 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 1.6% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,450as reported by BLSLocal price level
87.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,092US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,450 a year, 11.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $33,800 to $60,460 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 220 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Jackson, at $47,210.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Hattiesburg, MS?
The median annual wage is $44,450, or $21.37 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 $50,270, so pay in Hattiesburg, MS is 11.6% 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 Hattiesburg, MS earns more than $60,460 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $33,800 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 Jackson, at $47,210 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 220 jobs in this occupation in Hattiesburg, MS. 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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