SOC 51-9196 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Louisiana
Louisiana
Median pay for this occupation in Louisiana comes to $58,230 a year, ahead of the national median of $50,270 by 15.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Louisiana comes to $58,230 a year, ahead of the national median of $50,270 by 15.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $49,530 and $75,820. The lowest tenth earn under $44,480, while the highest tenth earn more than $79,730.
The area has 1,150 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.96 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, Louisiana ranks 5th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 309th of 679 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,480 | −11.5% |
| 25th | $49,530 | −1.5% |
| Median (50th) | $58,230 | +15.8% |
| 75th | $75,820 | +50.8% |
| 90th | $79,730 | +58.6% |
| Mean | $61,080 | +21.5% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $58,230 goes as far as $66,020 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 31.3% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$58,230as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,020US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $58,230 a year, 15.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,480 to $79,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,150 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 43 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Louisiana?
The median annual wage is $58,230, or $28.00 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 Louisiana is 15.8% higher. 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 Louisiana earns more than $79,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,480 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,150 jobs in this occupation in Louisiana. 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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