Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Illinois
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Illinois earn a median of $56,400 a year ($27.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,810 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $50,270. Illinois ranks 11th of 43 states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay. There are 0.88 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 $54,030, close to the median.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,830 | $19.15 |
| 25th percentile | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| Median | $56,400 | $27.11 |
| 75th percentile | $59,890 | $28.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Average (mean) | $54,030 | $25.98 |
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 | $4,700 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,350 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,169.23 |
| Weekly | $1,084.62 |
| Hourly | $27.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $56,400 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois 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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $59,020 | 4,320 |
| Rockford, IL | $56,800 | 90 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,570 | 680 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,560 | $25.75 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $41,730 | $20.06 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $61,940 | $29.78 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $51,380 | $24.70 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $49,740 | $23.92 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,370 | $22.78 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $47,180 | $22.68 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $68,830 | $33.09 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | $36,840 | $17.71 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Illinois is $56,400 a year, or $27.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Illinois?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Illinois earn at least $62,810 a year. The top 25% earn $59,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,830 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $47,300 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Illinois?
About 5,360 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.