Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Waterloo, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Median annual salary $45,240 -8.4% vs national
Median hourly $21.75
10th percentile $35,880
90th percentile $79,360
Employed locally 130
National median $49,390

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

Type a city below to see how Waterloo, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
in
Waterloo, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $35,880
    25th
    $36,310
    50th (median)
    $45,240
    75th
    $79,350
    90th
    $79,360

    Waterloo economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $68,916 2023 • Census ACS
    Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary vs area income 66% Median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary is 34% 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
    Cedar Rapids, IA $80,910
    South Georgia nonmetropolitan area $63,910
    Louisiana $62,690
    Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area $62,690
    Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area $56,820
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $51,680

    Related occupations in Waterloo, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $48,120
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $49,220
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $47,630
    Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators $48,420
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $75,420
    Production Workers, All Other $48,700

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Waterloo, IA is $21.75, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $39.79 or more per hour.

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

    The median Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Waterloo, IA is 8.4% 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 Waterloo?

    Entry-level Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (10th percentile) earn around $35,880 per year in Waterloo, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $36,310.