Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in California
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in California earn a median of $48,730 a year ($23.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,570 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,210 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $50,270. California ranks 26th of 43 states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay. There are 0.31 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $51,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| 25th percentile | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Median | $48,730 | $23.43 |
| 75th percentile | $59,390 | $28.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,210 | $31.35 |
| Average (mean) | $51,600 | $24.81 |
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 | $4,060.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,030.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,874.23 |
| Weekly | $937.12 |
| Hourly | $23.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,730 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | $59,150 | 370 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $57,780 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $53,870 | 230 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,100 | 200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,930 | 2,060 |
| Visalia, CA | $48,730 | 300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,420 | 780 |
| Fresno, CA | $46,800 | 330 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $44,760 | 150 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,140 | 250 |
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.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $54,300 | $26.11 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,670 | $20.03 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $56,510 | $27.17 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $43,970 | $21.14 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,910 | $25.44 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $52,950 | $25.46 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,640 | $24.34 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $58,300 | $28.03 |
| Semiconductor Processing Technician | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $47,410 | $22.80 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $49,190 | $23.65 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,110 | $22.17 |
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 California?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in California is $48,730 a year, or $23.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $65,210 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in California?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in California earn at least $65,210 a year. The top 25% earn $59,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,450 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $40,910 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in California?
About 5,570 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.