Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $47,980 -2.9% vs national
Median hourly $23.07
10th percentile $33,760
90th percentile $59,290
Employed locally 620
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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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,760
    25th
    $37,940
    50th (median)
    $47,980
    75th
    $49,840
    90th
    $59,290

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary vs area income 80% Median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary is 20% below the area median household income

    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

    Nearby metros — Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $61,020
    North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) $52,560
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $50,930
    Lancaster, PA $50,860
    Florence, SC $50,830
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $49,910

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $38,670
    Upholsterers $59,400
    Sewing Machine Operators $46,360
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $63,280
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $41,340
    Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $52,150

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Hickory, NC is $23.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $28.07 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Hickory, NC is 2.9% 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 Hickory?

    Entry-level Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $33,760 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $37,940.