Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders (51-9196) work in a production-focused career with a substantial national employment base of 98,000 workers. The role typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to people who want to enter the workforce without a lengthy education path. This occupation values hands-on capabilities such as fine motor skills, mechanical aptitude, physical strength and stamina, and being detail oriented. Problem solving, decision making, and mathematics also play a role, along with interpersonal, speaking and listening, leadership, and project management skills. Nationally, the median annual salary is $49,390, with additional variation by state and metro area. Despite a projected employment decline, there are still thousands of annual openings, which may reflect replacement needs as current workers move to other roles or retire. For individuals who are comfortable with physical work, machinery, and a structured production environment, this career can offer stable, skills-based employment options across multiple regions.
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn a national median annual salary of $49,390. Pay varies by location, giving workers options to target areas that better match their financial goals. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $48,730 in California and $48,840 in Massachusetts to $52,800 in New York and $59,410 in Washington. Top metro areas show similar variety: Boston-Cambridge-Newton offers a median of $58,820, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont $57,780, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim $48,930, while New York-Newark-Jersey City stands at $46,410. These differences highlight how geographic choice can influence earning potential within the same occupation. Job seekers can compare state and metro medians to decide whether higher local pay aligns with their cost of living, commuting preferences, and lifestyle priorities.
This occupation has a national employment level of 98,000 workers and a projected employment growth rate of -6.3%. While this indicates an expected decline in overall employment, there are still 8,000 annual openings. These openings create ongoing opportunities for new entrants and career changers, even as total employment is projected to decrease. The negative growth rate is consistent across the highlighted top states and metro areas, all showing -6.3% projected growth, which suggests that the overall trend affects multiple regions similarly. People considering this career should keep in mind that opportunities may come more from turnover and replacement rather than expansion. For those who already have the required skills or are looking for work that relies on mechanical abilities, physical stamina, and attention to detail, the combination of existing employment and continuing annual openings can still provide viable job prospects.
Location plays a meaningful role for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders. At the state level, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington stand out by opportunity score. Washington has the highest listed state median salary at $59,410 with 2,170 employed, while New York combines a median salary of $52,800 with 3,280 jobs. California has 5,570 employed and a median of $48,730, offering a relatively large employment base. Massachusetts and Colorado show smaller employment counts but competitive median wages near or just under $49,000. Among metro areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City has the highest opportunity score (77.27), with 2,940 employed and a median salary of $46,410. Boston-Cambridge-Newton and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont show higher median pay, at $58,820 and $57,780 respectively, but with smaller employment counts. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim provides 2,060 jobs at $48,930, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria offers a lower listed median at $40,350. These differences allow workers to weigh pay levels against job concentration and personal location preferences.
Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. This relatively modest formal education requirement makes the field accessible to recent high school graduates, adult learners, and career changers who prefer to enter or re-enter the workforce without extended schooling. Success in this role is strongly tied to a defined set of skills. Fine motor skills, mechanical abilities, physical strength and stamina, and detail orientation support the hands-on and production-oriented nature of the work. Mathematics, problem solving, and decision making contribute to handling measurements, adjustments, and troubleshooting. Interpersonal skills, along with speaking and listening, help with coordination on the work floor, while leadership and project management abilities can be valuable for taking on added responsibilities or overseeing processes and teams. Together, this combination of education and skills creates a pathway for individuals who want a practical, skills-based career in a production environment.
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