Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Indiana
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Indiana earn a median of $48,780 a year ($23.45 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,800 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $50,270. Indiana ranks 25th of 43 states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay. There are 0.81 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $49,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Indiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,070 | $17.34 |
| 25th percentile | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| Median | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| 75th percentile | $57,330 | $27.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,800 | $29.23 |
| Average (mean) | $49,710 | $23.90 |
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 | $4,065 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,032.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,876.15 |
| Weekly | $938.08 |
| Hourly | $23.45 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,780 salary, see how much house you can afford in Indiana 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 Indiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, IN | $65,110 | 40 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $59,020 | 4,320 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $59,000 | 440 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $49,120 | 850 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,900 | 1,410 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $48,080 | 210 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $43,420 | 90 |
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 Indiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,600 | $21.44 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $56,800 | $27.31 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,650 | $22.91 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $42,210 | $20.29 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,150 | $22.19 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $46,400 | $22.31 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $53,990 | $25.96 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer | $63,200 | $30.38 |
| Tire Builder | $51,170 | $24.60 |
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 Indiana?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Indiana is $48,780 a year, or $23.45 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $60,800 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Indiana?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Indiana earn at least $60,800 a year. The top 25% earn $57,330 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Indiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,070 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $46,170 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Indiana?
About 2,580 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in Indiana, not counting the self-employed.