Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Columbia, SC
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $51,010 a year ($24.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 450 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,130 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $50,270. Pay here is 2% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $50,040. There are 1.1 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $51,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,580 | $18.55 |
| 25th percentile | $47,000 | $22.60 |
| Median | $51,010 | $24.53 |
| 75th percentile | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| Average (mean) | $51,570 | $24.79 |
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 | $4,250.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,125.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,961.92 |
| Weekly | $980.96 |
| Hourly | $24.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,010 salary, see how much house you can afford in South 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 |
| Florence, SC | $48,140 | 290 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $47,310 | 310 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $46,840 | 450 |
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 South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.23 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $41,340 | $19.87 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $50,430 | $24.24 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,320 | $23.71 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,760 | $22.96 |
| Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $44,790 | $21.53 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders | $34,140 | $16.42 |
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 Columbia, SC?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Columbia, SC metro area is $51,010 a year, or $24.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $63,130 a year. The top 25% earn $56,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,580 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $47,000 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Columbia, SC?
About 450 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.