Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Asheville, NC
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the Asheville, NC metro area earn a median of $46,940 a year ($22.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,030 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $50,270. Pay here is 2% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $47,940. There are 0.84 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $46,820, close to the median.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Asheville, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,540 | $18.53 |
| 25th percentile | $41,340 | $19.88 |
| Median | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| 75th percentile | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,030 | $28.86 |
| Average (mean) | $46,820 | $22.51 |
Half of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,911.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,955.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,805.38 |
| Weekly | $902.69 |
| Hourly | $22.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,940 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $49,970 | 700 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,740 | 600 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,050 | 250 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $46,990 | 500 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $38,730 | 550 |
Highest-paying states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $63,640 |
| Maine | $61,780 |
| Utah | $60,790 |
| Washington | $59,410 |
| Louisiana | $58,230 |
| Minnesota | $58,150 |
| Kentucky | $58,050 |
| Wisconsin | $58,050 |
| Idaho | $57,950 |
| Oregon | $56,810 |
See Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Asheville, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $49,010 | $23.56 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $42,810 | $20.58 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,060 | $20.22 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $45,940 | $22.09 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,310 | $24.19 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,750 | $22.96 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $45,280 | $21.77 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | $53,450 | $25.70 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,330 | $25.64 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,570 | $21.43 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $44,700 | $21.49 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Asheville, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-9196. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Asheville, NC?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Asheville, NC metro area is $46,940 a year, or $22.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Asheville, NC?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Asheville, NC metro area earn at least $60,030 a year. The top 25% earn $50,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Asheville, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,540 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $41,340 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Asheville, NC?
About 150 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in the Asheville, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.