Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in East Tennessee

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $43,650 -11.6% vs national
Median hourly $20.98
10th percentile $35,190
90th percentile $64,370
Employed locally 180
National median $49,390

Compare Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary & buying power

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Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,190
    25th
    $36,220
    50th (median)
    $43,650
    75th
    $58,340
    90th
    $64,370

    Top-paying metros for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Cedar Rapids, IA $80,910
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $75,790
    Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area $66,750
    Longview-Kelso, WA $66,600
    Pittsfield, MA $65,190
    Terre Haute, IN $65,110

    Related occupations in East Tennessee

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $41,980
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $59,240
    Production Workers, All Other $41,560
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $44,260
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $46,150
    Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders $44,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make per hour in East Tennessee?

    The median hourly wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in East Tennessee is $20.98, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $30.95 or more per hour.

    Is East Tennessee above or below average for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salaries?

    The median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in East Tennessee is 11.6% below the national median of $49,390. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in East Tennessee?

    Entry-level Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $35,190 per year in East Tennessee. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,220.