SOC 51-9196 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Houston
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Houston, TX is $46,130 per year, 8.2% below the national median of $50,270.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Houston, TX is $46,130 per year, 8.2% below the national median of $50,270. Pay ranges from under $37,090 at the tenth percentile to more than $55,880 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $38,730 to $50,370.
Employment stands at 410, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Killeen leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,520. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 491st of 699 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,090 | −26.2% |
| 25th | $38,730 | −23.0% |
| Median (50th) | $46,130 | −8.2% |
| 75th | $50,370 | +0.2% |
| 90th | $55,880 | +11.2% |
| Mean | $46,330 | −7.8% |
Other metro areas in Texas
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Houston run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $46,130 goes as far as $47,508 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,130as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,508US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,130 a year, 8.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,090 to $55,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 410 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Killeen, at $49,520.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Houston, TX?
The median annual wage is $46,130, or $22.18 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 Houston, TX is 8.2% 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 Houston, TX earns more than $55,880 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,090 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 Killeen, at $49,520 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 410 jobs in this occupation in Houston, TX. 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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