SOC 51-9196 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Michigan
Michigan · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Michigan is $50,540 per year, close to the national median of $50,270 for the same occupation.
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 Michigan is $50,540 per year, close to the national median of $50,270 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $38,950 at the tenth percentile to more than $66,750 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $48,220 to $60,620.
Employment stands at 3,000, or 0.7 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, Michigan ranks 16th by median wage. Battle Creek leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $57,810. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 470th of 774 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,950 | −22.5% |
| 25th | $48,220 | −4.1% |
| Median (50th) | $50,540 | +0.5% |
| 75th | $60,620 | +20.6% |
| 90th | $66,750 | +32.8% |
| Mean | $53,580 | +6.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Michigan
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle Creek | $57,810 | 40 | |
| 2 | Kalamazoo | $51,360 | 370 | |
| 3 | Detroit | $51,220 | 720 | |
| 4 | Niles | $49,590 | 100 | |
| 5 | Grand Rapids | $48,910 | 520 | |
| 6 | Ann Arbor | $45,800 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $50,540 goes as far as $52,536 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 4.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$50,540as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$52,536US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $50,540 a year, 0.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,950 to $66,750 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,000 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 16th of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Battle Creek, at $57,810.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Michigan?
The median annual wage is $50,540, or $24.30 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 Michigan is 0.5% 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 Michigan earns more than $66,750 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,950 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 Battle Creek, at $57,810 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,000 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. 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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