Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Houston, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Median annual salary $42,710 -13.5% vs national
Median hourly $20.53
10th percentile $35,200
90th percentile $53,540
Employed locally 470
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
    $35,200
    25th
    $36,350
    50th (median)
    $42,710
    75th
    $48,740
    90th
    $53,540

    Houston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,458 2023 • Census ACS
    Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary vs area income 53% Median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary is 47% 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
    Killeen-Temple, TX $49,540
    San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $46,180
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $43,930
    El Paso, TX $36,350

    Related occupations in Houston, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$36,560
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$53,810
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$43,810
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,530
    Machinists$58,630
    Helpers--Production Workers$35,990

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Houston, TX is $20.53, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $26.86 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Houston, TX is 13.5% 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 Houston?

    Entry-level Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $35,200 per year in Houston, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,350.