SOC 51-9196 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — Texas
Texas · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage here is $47,830 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $50,270.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage here is $47,830 a year, within a few percent of the national median of $50,270. Half of workers earn between $39,260 and $54,420. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $36,490 and the ninetieth at $66,200.
The area has 3,740 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.3 of every thousand jobs. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, Texas ranks 33rd by median wage. 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 499th of 794 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,490 | −27.4% |
| 25th | $39,260 | −21.9% |
| Median (50th) | $47,830 | −4.9% |
| 75th | $54,420 | +8.3% |
| 90th | $66,200 | +31.7% |
| Mean | $48,900 | −2.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Texas
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Texas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $47,830 goes as far as $49,258 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,830as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,258US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,830 a year, 4.9% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,490 to $66,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,740 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 33rd of 43 states for 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 Texas?
The median annual wage is $47,830, or $23.00 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 Texas is 4.9% 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 Texas earns more than $66,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,490 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 3,740 jobs in this occupation in Texas. 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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