Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary in Kentucky
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Kentucky earn a median of $58,050 a year ($27.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,610 for the top 10%. That is 15% higher than the national median of $50,270. Kentucky ranks 7th of 43 states for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders pay. There are 1.3 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $58,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,450 | $22.33 |
| 25th percentile | $50,800 | $24.42 |
| Median | $58,050 | $27.91 |
| 75th percentile | $61,250 | $29.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,610 | $36.83 |
| Average (mean) | $58,480 | $28.12 |
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 | $4,837.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,418.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,232.69 |
| Weekly | $1,116.35 |
| Hourly | $27.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $58,050 salary, see how much house you can afford in Kentucky 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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $59,000 | 440 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $57,620 | 220 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,900 | 1,410 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,150 | 160 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $46,280 | $22.25 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,530 | $27.66 |
| Helpers--Production Workers | $42,130 | $20.26 |
| Production Workers, All Other | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $47,170 | $22.68 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $36,180 | $17.40 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,490 | $23.31 |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $58,770 | $28.25 |
| Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $48,180 | $23.16 |
| Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $46,770 | $22.48 |
| Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic | $41,590 | $20.00 |
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Kentucky is $58,050 a year, or $27.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $76,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Kentucky earn at least $76,610 a year. The top 25% earn $61,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,450 a year, and a quarter of paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders earn $50,800 or less.
How many paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders work in Kentucky?
About 2,670 paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.