Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Knoxville, TN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Knoxville, TN

Median annual salary $50,940 +3.1% vs national
Median hourly $24.49
10th percentile $37,860
90th percentile $63,650
Employed locally 430
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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Knoxville, TN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,860
    25th
    $47,180
    50th (median)
    $50,940
    75th
    $58,670
    90th
    $63,650

    Knoxville economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $69,734 2023 • Census ACS
    Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary vs area income 73% Median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary is 27% 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
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $50,110
    Memphis, TN-MS-AR $49,530
    Chattanooga, TN-GA $48,110
    Clarksville, TN-KY $47,030
    Jackson, TN $45,910
    Morristown, TN $36,330

    Related occupations in Knoxville, TN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $38,120
    Production Workers, All Other $39,520
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $62,220
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $46,440
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $47,370
    Machinists $47,840

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Knoxville, TN is $24.49, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $29.06 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Knoxville, TN is 3.1% above 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 Knoxville?

    Entry-level Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $37,860 per year in Knoxville, TN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,180.