Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

SOC code 51-9196 · O*NET-SOC 51-9196.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Manufacturing and production

Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay

U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number

Median pay

$50,270

a year

Hourly

$24.17

per hour

10th$37,300Median$50,27090th$70,320

The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.

Average pay

$52,840

$25.40 per hour

Middle 50%

$44,920 – $60,180

25th to 75th percentile

Full spread

$37,300 – $70,320

10th to 90th percentile

People employed

96,130

nationwide

National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.

10th percentile: $37,300; $17.93/hr
25th percentile: $44,920; $21.60/hr
Median percentile: $50,270; $24.17/hr
75th percentile: $60,180; $28.93/hr
90th percentile: $70,320; $33.81/hr

What do paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders 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.

The tasks that matter most day to day

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.
Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting.
Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters.
Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feed tracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers.
Monitor finished cartons as they drop from forming machines into rotating hoppers and into gravity feed chutes to prevent jamming.
Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand 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.

How to qualify for this work

Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 69% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.

Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed

Education: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience: 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.
Training: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

See all zone 2 occupations →

Education reported by people doing this job

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)69%
Less than a High School Diploma20%
Some College Courses9%
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree1%

Common questions

How much does a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn?

The national median is $50,270 a year. The full range runs from $37,300 at the 10th percentile to $70,320 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.

Can you become a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders without a degree?

Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.

Skills and knowledge you need

Core skills

Active Listening3.0/5
Speaking3.0/5
Critical Thinking3.0/5
Monitoring3.0/5
Active Learning2.9/5

Knowledge areas

Production and Processing3.7/5
Mechanical3.6/5
Mathematics3.5/5
Customer and Personal Service3.2/5
English Language3.2/5
Education and Training2.7/5
Public Safety and Security2.7/5

Transferable strengths: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness.