The median pay for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is $50,270 a year ($24.17/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to fall 3.6% through 2035, with about 9,000 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 51-9196
- Production
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender in four numbers
- Median pay
- $50,270a year, or $24.17/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $70K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.6%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 9,00096,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202596.1K
- Projected 203592.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 96.1K Projected 2035 92.6K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school20.2%
- High school69.4%
- Certificate0.5%
- Some college9.4%
- Associate's0.6%
Highest education held by paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders Segment Value Less than high school 20.2% High school 69.4% Certificate 0.5% Some college 9.4% Associate's 0.6%
Also advertised as: Corrugator Operator, Cup Room Technician, Folder Machine Operator, Gluer Operator, Paper Cutter Operator, Paper Machine Backtender.
Pay
How much do Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?
Every paper goods machine setter, operator, and tender in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$50,270
Middle half earn $44,920 to $60,180
- 10th
- $37,300
- 25th
- $44,920
- 75th
- $60,180
- 90th
- $70,320
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,300 |
| 25th | $44,920 |
| Median | $50,270 |
| 75th | $60,180 |
| 90th | $70,320 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $50,270
- Median hourly wage
- $24.17/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $52,840
- People employed
- 96,130
Versus all US occupations
At $50,270, the median for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders sits in line with the $50,980 median across all US occupations.
Versus production occupations
Inside the Production group, where the middle occupation pays $48,030, this is 5% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $70,320 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,300, a gap of 1.9×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 22% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Oklahoma pays the most at $63,640, and still leads at $72,447 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Oklahoma | $63,640 | $72,447 | 1,390 |
| 2Maine | $61,780 | $63,658 | 740 |
| 3Utah | $60,790 | $61,489 | 1,350 |
| 4Washington | $59,410 | $55,517 | 2,170 |
| 5Louisiana | $58,230 | $66,015 | 1,150 |
| 6Minnesota | $58,150 | $58,963 | 1,960 |
| 7Kentucky | $58,050 | $64,386 | 2,670 |
| 8Wisconsin | $58,050 | $61,693 | 8,510 |
| 9Idaho | $57,950 | $60,684 | 480 |
| 10Oregon | $56,810 | $54,963 | 680 |
Job outlook
Is Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | −3.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders to change -3.6% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 3,500 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 9,000 openings are projected each year, 9.4% of the 96,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)69.4%
- Less than a High School Diploma20.2%
- Some College Courses9.4%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree0.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate0.5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 69.4% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 20.2% |
| Some College Courses | 9.4% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 0.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender do?
Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products.
Day-to-day tasks
- Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
- Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.
- Disassemble machines to maintain, repair, or replace broken or worn parts, using hand or power tools.
- Start machines and move controls to regulate tension on pressure rolls, to synchronize speed of machine components, and to adjust temperatures of glue or paraffin.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.0
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Monitoring3.0
- Active Learning2.9
- Reading Comprehension2.8
- Writing2.3
- Mathematics2.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.0 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.3 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.6
- Operation and Control3.3
- Quality Control Analysis3.1
- Time Management3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Coordination2.9
- Complex Problem Solving2.9
- Equipment Maintenance2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.6 |
| Operation and Control | 3.3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.9 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Electronic mail software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 1 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.5
- Conventional4.5
- Investigative1.7
- Enterprising1.4
- Artistic1.3
- Social1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender
O*NET related occupations
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Most earn $31K to $61K
+1.3%High school - Production
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$46,570median a year
Most earn $36K to $61K
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$38,760median a year
Most earn $29K to $49K
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Most earn $36K to $64K
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Most earn $35K to $63K
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More production careers
Median annual pay, with paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders highlighted
- Power Plant Operator$102,040
- Tool and Die Maker$64,050
- Machinist$58,750
- Welder$53,750
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$51,330
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$50,690
- Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender$50,270
- Butcher and Meat Cutter$40,140
- Baker$37,160
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Plant Operator | $102,040 |
| Tool and Die Maker | $64,050 |
| Machinist | $58,750 |
| Welder | $53,750 |
| Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter | $51,330 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,690 |
| Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender | $50,270 |
| Butcher and Meat Cutter | $40,140 |
| Baker | $37,160 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender appears on
Questions
Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender: frequently asked questions
How much do Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders make?
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earn a median of $50,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), close to the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $24.17/hr. The middle half earn between $44,920 and $60,180. The top 10% earn $70,320 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 69.4% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.6% over 2025–2035, a loss of 3,500 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 9,000 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender do?
Set up, operate, or tend paper goods machines that perform a variety of functions, such as converting, sawing, corrugating, banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, forming, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets into products. A core O*NET task: examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems. Employers most often ask for Desktop publishing software, Document management software, Graphics or photo imaging software.
Which states pay Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders the most?
The highest state medians for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are Oklahoma ($63,640), Maine ($61,780), Utah ($60,790) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Paper Goods Machine Setter, Operator, and Tender?
O*NET scores Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders highest on the Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.