All careers › Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Paper machine operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $37,300lowest 10% earn less
- $44,92025th percentile
- $50,270median
- $60,18075th percentile
- $70,320top 10% earn more
Paper machine operators, which BLS calls paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders, had a median pay of $50,270 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to decline 3.6% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- -3.6%[2]
- Openings per year
- 9,000[5]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[6]
How much do paper machine operators make?
The median pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders was $50,270 a year, or $24.17 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean (average) was $52,840 a year, or $25.40 an hour[7]. For all occupations, the median annual wage was $50,980[4]. The median for this job was a little below that.
Pay varies within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,300 a year, and the 25th percentile was $44,920[3]. The 75th percentile was $60,180 and the 90th percentile was $70,320[3]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $17.93 and the 90th percentile was $33.81[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].
| Measure | Annual wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[3] | $37,300 | |
| 25th percentile[3] | $44,920 | |
| Median[1] | $50,270 | |
| 75th percentile[3] | $60,180 | |
| 90th percentile[3] | $70,320 |
These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 96,130 people held these jobs in this count[11].
Pay by state and city
BLS published medians for 43 states[12]. Oklahoma had the highest at $63,640, followed by Maine at $61,780 and Utah at $60,790[12]. Kansas had the lowest published median, at $45,840[12].
Wisconsin had the most jobs, at 8,510[13]. Pennsylvania followed with 7,410, then Georgia with 5,650, California with 5,570 and Illinois with 5,360[13]. Wisconsin had a median of $58,050 and Pennsylvania had $51,780[12].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in Cedar Rapids, IA at $83,470, Pittsfield, MA at $65,190 and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA at $64,020[14]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at 4,320, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at 2,940 and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at 2,060[15]. Their medians were $59,020, $46,410 and $48,930[15].
Show median pay in 43 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma[12] | $63,640 | 1,390 |
| Maine | $61,780 | 740 |
| Utah | $60,790 | 1,350 |
| Washington | $59,410 | 2,170 |
| Louisiana | $58,230 | 1,150 |
| Minnesota | $58,150 | 1,960 |
| Kentucky | $58,050 | 2,670 |
| Wisconsin | $58,050 | 8,510 |
| Idaho | $57,950 | 480 |
| Oregon | $56,810 | 680 |
| Illinois | $56,400 | 5,360 |
| New Mexico | $53,930 | 100 |
| New York | $52,800 | 3,280 |
| Alabama | $52,290 | 3,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,780 | 7,410 |
| Michigan | $50,540 | 3,000 |
| New Hampshire | $50,200 | 230 |
| Georgia | $50,160 | 5,650 |
| South Carolina | $50,040 | 2,460 |
| Virginia | $49,900 | 2,370 |
| Arizona | $49,160 | 1,190 |
| Colorado | $48,940 | 240 |
| Florida | $48,910 | 1,360 |
| Massachusetts | $48,840 | 1,920 |
| Indiana | $48,780 | 2,580 |
| California | $48,730 | 5,570 |
| Rhode Island | $48,710 | 240 |
| Arkansas | $48,630 | 2,060 |
| Connecticut | $48,530 | 650 |
| Delaware | $48,110 | 160 |
| Nebraska | $47,980 | 300 |
| North Carolina | $47,940 | 4,800 |
| Texas | $47,830 | 3,740 |
| Maryland | $47,780 | 480 |
| Nevada | $47,780 | 380 |
| Missouri | $47,560 | 1,540 |
| Ohio | $47,450 | 4,640 |
| Mississippi | $47,380 | 960 |
| Tennessee | $46,920 | 3,490 |
| South Dakota | $46,910 | 130 |
| Iowa | $46,110 | 1,010 |
| New Jersey | $45,950 | 3,210 |
| Kansas | $45,840 | 420 |
How to become a paper machine operator
The path in the BLS data is short and does not list a license or exam.
- First: finish high school or earn an equivalent. That is the typical education for entry[6].
- Next: you do not need related work experience[6].
- Then: learn on the job. BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training for this occupation[6].
In an ONET survey of 26 workers, 69% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 20% said less than a diploma and 9% said some college courses[16]. This is a small survey. ONET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, where some jobs need little experience and others need several months to a year[17]. The facts here do not say how long the training lasts.
What paper machine operators do
O*NET describes the work as setting up, running or tending machines that turn paper or paperboard sheets into products. The machines cut, corrugate, wrap, box, stitch, form or seal[18]. Common tasks include:
- Checking finished work for defects and adjusting the machine to fix production problems[19].
- Watching the machines for faults such as poor forming, glue flow or paperboard tension[19].
- Starting machines and setting controls for roll tension, speed and glue temperature[19].
- Taking machines apart to maintain them and replace worn parts with hand or power tools[19].
- Fitting attachments for gluing, folding, printing or cutting[19].
- Loading rolls of paper or cardboard and threading them through the machine[19].
- Watching cartons as they leave the forming machines so they do not jam[19].
- Setting saw blades, cutters and guides to the product specifications[19].
Workers in O*NET report job titles such as corrugator operator, paper cutter operator and folder machine operator[20].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders to decline 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 96,100 to 92,600 jobs[2]. For all occupations, projected growth is 3.5%[21]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2].
Even so, BLS expects about 9,000 openings a year on average from 2025 to 2035[5]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or move to other occupations, as well as new jobs[5]. Each year, 4.6% of workers leave the labor force and 5.3% move to a different occupation[22].
Is it a good fit?
The facts describe a job with a low barrier to entry. A high school diploma and on-the-job training are typical, and no related experience is needed[6]. The median pay of $50,270 is close to the all-occupations median of $50,980, and the top 10% earned $70,320 or more[1][4][3]. Total employment is projected to shrink, so openings come from workers leaving rather than from new jobs[2][5]. Pay differs a lot by state, so local figures matter[12].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a paper machine operator make an hour?
- The median was $24.17 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $17.93 and the 90th percentile was $33.81[8].
- What education do you need to be a paper machine operator?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[6].
- Is paper machine operator in demand?
- BLS projects a 3.6% decline from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all occupations, with about 9,000 openings a year[2][21][5].
- What is the highest paying state for paper machine operators?
- Oklahoma had the highest median at $63,640, followed by Maine at $61,780[12].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the US was $50,270 per year and $24.17 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders is projected to decline 3.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 96,100 to 92,600 jobs (a change of -3,500). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 10th percentile $37,300, 25th percentile $44,920, 75th percentile $60,180, 90th percentile $70,320. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 9,000 openings for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders was $52,840 per year and $25.40 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 10th percentile $17.93, 25th percentile $21.60, 75th percentile $28.93, 90th percentile $33.81. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 96,130 people were employed as Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders jobs: Wisconsin 8,510; Pennsylvania 7,410; Georgia 5,650; California 5,570; Illinois 5,360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Cedar Rapids, IA $83,470; Pittsfield, MA $65,190; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $64,020; Glens Falls, NY $61,830; Wausau, WI $61,070; Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $60,440; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $59,980; Longview-Kelso, WA $59,770. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders jobs: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 4,320 (median $59,020); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,940 (median $46,410); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,060 (median $48,930); Green Bay, WI 1,740 (median $59,230); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 1,690 (median $48,150); Oshkosh-Neenah, WI 1,670 (median $58,560). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 51-9196.00 survey of workers (26 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 69%, Less than a High School Diploma 20%, Some College Courses 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-9196.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 51-9196.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Corrugator Operator, Cup Room Technician, Folder Machine Operator, Gluer Operator, Paper Cutter Operator, Paper Machine Backtender, Paper Machine Operator, Stitching Machine Operator. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders: 4.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.